Drought Information Statement for Northern IN, Southern MI, Northwest OH
Valid October 21, 2025
Issued By: NWS Northern Indiana on October 23, 2025
Contact Information: nws.northernindiana@noaa.gov  574-834-1104
This product will be updated on or after October 30, 2025.
Please see all currently available products at https://drought.gov/drought-information-statements.
Please visit https://www.weather.gov/iwx/DroughtInformationStatement for previous statements. 
Please visit https://www.drought.gov/drought-status-updates for regional drought status updates.
Drought conditions improved in pockets of northwest Indiana and southwest Michigan. Elsewhere, drought conditions are largely unchanged since last week’s update:
Extreme Drought (level 3 of 4) to Moderate Drought (level 2 of 4) continues in northwest Ohio, portions of Indiana, and southern Michigan
Primarily dry in the coming 7 days. Additional rain by the middle of next week. 


U.S. Drought Monitor
Drought Intensity and Extent:
D3 (Extreme Drought): In northwest Ohio along US 24 and in parts of Allen, Adams, Miami, Wells, and Cass counties in Indiana
D2 (Severe Drought): Many Indiana and Ohio counties along and south of US 24
D1 (Moderate Drought): Southern Lower Michigan, northern Indiana north of US 24, and far northwest Ohio
D0 (Abnormally Dry): Mainly in far northwest Indiana

Recent Change in Drought Intensity
Link to the latest 4-week change map for northern Indiana, southern Michigan, and northwest Ohio
One Week Drought Monitor Class Change:
Drought conditions improved in small portions of northwest Indiana and far southwest Michigan

Precipitation
Last weekend, 1 to 3 inches of rain fell over Michiana. Totals were less than 1 inch along the IN-OH border, as reflected by the drier than normal 7-day precipitation departure.
30-day rainfall exceeded normal in northwest IN and southwest MI

Summary of Impacts
Hydrologic Impacts 
28-day streamflows, according to USGS data, continue to be below normal.

Agricultural Impacts
No known impacts at this time.

Fire Hazard Impacts
Burn bans are in effect for a few Indiana Counties (Indiana Department of Homeland Security.)
Prior to rainfall last weekend, there were reports of field fires in Paulding County (Ohio State University Department of Extension)

Other Impacts
No known impacts at this time.


Hydrologic Conditions and Impacts
Image Caption: USGS 7 day average streamflow HUC map valid October 16
Recent rain has allowed streamflows to recover somewhat, but many still remain below normal
Streamflows are reading less than 10% of normal (red)
Streamflows are reading 10-24% of normal (orange)

Seven Day Precipitation Forecast

Primarily dry in the coming 7 days; Additional rain by the middle of next week (week of 10/26). 
Cool temperatures going forward will help soil moisture recover

Drought Outlook
The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage
Drought conditions are anticipated to improve this fall and winter, according to the Climate Prediction Center 
Precipitation departures:
Fort Wayne is 3.5” below normal since September 1 and is over 12” below normal for the year.
South Bend is about 1.5” below normal since September 1 (note: this is a big improvement since last week) and is about 4” below normal for the year.