Drought Information Statement for the Quad State Region Valid April 25, 2024 Issued By: WFO Paducah, Kentucky Contact Information: nws.paducah@noaa.gov This product will be updated around May 2, 2024 or sooner if drought conditions change significantly. Please see all currently available products at https://drought.gov/drought-information-statements. Please visit https://www.weather.gov/pah/DroughtInformationStatement for previous statements. Rainfall continues to help ease drought conditions across the region. Severe Drought remains only in a small part of southeast Missouri. As chances for precipitation increase in the next few weeks, so will evapo-transpiration needs as the spring green-up continues. U.S. Drought Monitor Severe drought remains only in a small part of southeast Missouri Drought intensity and Extent D2 (Severe Drought): Covers only a small corner of Carter and Ripley Counties in southeast Missouri along the Ozark Foothills D1 (Moderate Drought): Covers about 37% of the forecast area in parts of southeast Missouri, southern Illinois and west Kentucky D0: (Abnormally Dry): Covers much of the rest of southern Illinois and west Kentucky Recent Change in Drought Intensity One Week Drought Monitor Class Change Drought Improved: One category across parts of the region including southwest Indiana. Drought Worsened: Across a small part of southeast Missouri into Ripley County and the southern part of the Pennyrile Area of west Kentucky. Precipitation West Kentucky missed out on most of the heavier rain. Parts of southeast Missouri and the Evansville Tri-State picked up around 2 inches of rain. Last 30 Day Average and Departure Temperature Warmer than normal temperatures continue. Much of the area is seeing average temperatures 2 to 6 degrees warmer than normal. Summary of Impacts Hydrologic Impacts There are no known impacts at this time Agricultural Impacts Greenup is just about complete. Crops are being planted. Due to the early nature of the growing season, some homeowners are having to water ornamental plants when there is a stretch of dry weather. Fire Hazard Impacts There are no known impacts at this time Other Impacts There are no known impacts at this time Mitigation Actions Please refer to your municipality and/or water provider for mitigation information. Hydrologic Conditions and Impacts Rainfall has helped to improve streamflow conditions across the region. Areas that didn’t receive the heavier rainfall remains below normal. Image Caption: USGS 7 day average streamflow HUC map Hydrologic Conditions and Impacts Rainfall has helped to improve streamflow conditions across the region. Areas that didn’t receive the heavier rainfall remains below normal. Image Caption: USGS 7 day average streamflow HUC map Agricultural Impacts Soil moisture remains below normal for a large part of the Ohio and middle Mississippi Valleys. Fire Hazard Impacts No Wildfire Hazards at this time. Seven Day Precipitation Forecast A strong spring storm system will bring a chance of severe weather and heavy rainfall to much of the Central Plains into the weekend. A warm front will lift north into Friday morning bringing a chance for scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms. As the storm system approaches our area late in the weekend, we will see increased chances for showers and thunderstorms. Areas west of the Mississippi River may pick up 1 to 2 inches of rain while areas east of the Mississippi River may expect around 1 inch or less. Rapid Onset Drought Outlook Heavy rainfall is expected to stay west and northwest through next week. This may bring some increased flows along the Mississippi River. Long-Range Outlooks The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage The warmer than normal pattern will continue through May. An active storm pattern will keep periodic chances for showers and storms through much of the rest of the month but will shift south as we head into May. Drought Outlook The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage If an active weather pattern continues, some improvement in the most severe drought areas is possible through the end of April.