NOAA's National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office

Precipitation Helps, but Still No Changes in Drought Situation

Updated on Thursday, December 11, 2008 - Jeff Boyne
Next Scheduled Update:  Thursday, January 8, 2009

Daily Monitoring of Drought Impacts & Outlooks

From 7 AM on December 2nd through 7 AM on December 9th, between a half and an inch and a half of precipitation less than a half inch of precipitation fell across northeast Iowa, southeast Minnesota, and the southern two thirds of Wisconsin.  Meanwhile the remainder of the Upper Mississippi River Valley received less than a half inch. The greatest precipitation amounts during the aforementioned time period were reported at Prairie du Chien WI (1.25 inches), Richland Center WI (1.02 inches), Waukon IA (1.07 inches), La Crosse Municipal Airport (0.96 inches), Neillsville WI (0.94 inches), La Crescent Dam 7 MN (0.93 inches), and the National Weather Service office in La Crosse (0.92 inches).  The map below provides more detail on how much precipitation fell across the area during this time period.

Typically, between a quarter and a third of an inch of precipitation falls during this time period, so there was some reduction in the precipitation deficits which have developed during the latter half of 2008.  However this was not enough of a reduction to change the drought situation.

In northeast Iowa, precipitation deficits are running between 2.50 inches and 6.50 inches since mid July 2008.  These precipitation deficits have resulted in an abnormally dry (D0) and moderate drought (D1) conditions across this area.

In southeast Minnesota, precipitation deficits are running between 5.50 and 9.50 inches since mid June 2008.  These precipitation deficits have resulted in an abnormally dry (D0) and moderate drought (D1) conditions across this area.   

Finally, in western Wisconsin, precipitation deficits are running between 3.50 and 8.00 inches since mid July 2008.  This has resulted in abnormally dry (D0) to severe drought (D2) conditions across these areas.

The moderate (D1) to severe (D2) drought caused some reduction in the 2008 soy bean yields.  This crop averaged 15 to 30 bushels per acre.  Normally, these yields should have ranged from 35 to 45 bushels per acre.  In addition, there were some reports of apples and raspberries being smaller than normal.  The drought has also affected hydrology.  The depth of the ground water has declined 3.12 feet since mid July 2008 in Monroe County (Tomah, WI).

In the December 9th release of the U.S. Drought Monitor, severe (D2) drought was found across central and northeast Wisconsin; and south central Upper Michigan.  Moderate drought (D1) existed across all or parts of northeast Iowa, southeast and east central Minnesota, western Wisconsin, and the western half of Upper Michigan.  Abnormally dry (D0) conditions surround the moderate drought (D1) areas in Minnesota, Wisconsin, northeast and north central Iowa, extreme northwest Lower Michigan, and the eastern half of Upper Michigan.

Local Area Affected:

State and Local Actions:

No known actions are currently taking place.

Climatological Summary:

Northeast Iowa...

Since mid July 2008, most locations in northeast Iowa have received between 8 and 12 inches of precipitation. These totals are 2.50 to 6.50 inches below normal. Normally these areas receive between 14.50 and 15.00 inches of precipitation from mid July through mid December.  Due to these precipitation deficits, abnormally dry (D0) to moderate drought (D1) conditions exist across northeast Iowa.

The table below shows how much precipitation has fallen and precipitation deficits across parts of northeast Iowa from July 20 through December 9, 2008.

Southeast Minnesota...

Since mid June 2008, most locations in southeast Minnesota have received between 10.00 and 13.50 inches of precipitation.  These totals are generally 5.50 to 9.50 inches below normal.  Normally this area receives between 18.50 and 19.00 inches of precipitation from mid June through mid December.  Due to these precipitation deficits, abnormally dry (D0) to moderate drought conditions (D1) continue to be found across this area.

The table below shows how much precipitation has fallen and precipitation deficits across southeast Minnesota from June 15 through December 9, 2008.

Western Wisconsin...

Since mid July 2008, most locations in western Wisconsin have received between 6.50 and 11.50 inches of precipitation. These totals are between 3.50 and 8.00 inches below normal. Normally these areas receive between 14.00 and 14.50 inches of precipitation from mid July through mid December.  Due to these precipitation deficits, abnormally dry (D0) to severe drought (D2) conditions exist across western Wisconsin.

The table below shows how much precipitation has fallen and precipitation deficits across parts of northeast Iowa and western Wisconsin from July 20 through December 9, 2008.

The U.S. Drought Monitor is a weekly collaborative effort between a number of federal agencies including NOAA/NWS, U.S. Department of Agriculture and the National Drought Mitigation Center. Details and explanations of the Drought Monitor can found at the web site:

http://www.drought.unl.edu/
dm/monitor.html

The categories of drought are defined as follows:

Abnormally Dry (D0) - Going into drought: short-term dryness slowing planting, growth of crops or pastures; fire risk above average. Coming out of drought: some lingering water deficits; pastures or crops not fully recovered.

Moderate Drought (D1) - Some damage to crops, pastures; fire risk high; streams, reservoirs, or wells low, some water shortages developing or imminent, voluntary water use restrictions requested.

Severe Drought (D2) - Crop or pasture losses likely; fire risk very high; water shortages common; water restrictions imposed.

Extreme Drought (D3) - Major crop/pasture losses; extreme fire danger; widespread water shortages or restrictions.

Exceptional Drought (D4) - Exceptional and widespread crop/pasture losses; exceptional fire risk; shortages of water in reservoirs, streams, and wells, creating water emergencies.

As of December 9th, the Midwestern Regional Climate Center (MRCC) indicated that the soil moisture in the top five feet ranged from 2.00 to 3.50 inches below normal from north central and northeast Iowa northeast into northern Wisconsin.  The soils were the driest (between 3.00 and 3.50 inches below normal) across southeast Minnesota, west central Wisconsin, and northeast Iowa. The image below is from the MRCC.

Current Soil Moisture Deviation as of December 9, 2008
(Depth 0-72 inches)

Additional information about soil moisture conditions can be found either at the Midwestern Regional Climate Center (MRCC) at:

http://mrcc.isws.illinois.edu/cliwatch/drought/drought.jsp

or at the NWS Climate Prediction Center (CPC) Web Site at:

http://www.cpc.noaa.gov/products/soilmst/w.shtml

Additional information about ground levels can be found either at the USGS Ground-Water Climate Response Network at:

http://groundwaterwatch.usgs.gov/

The seasonal outlook for January 2009 through March 2009 calls for near to above normal temperatures; and equal chances for above, below, and near normal precipitation across the Upper Mississippi River Valley.

For updated temperature and precipitation probabilities consult the following Climate Prediction Center (CPC) Web Sites:

8 to 14 Day Outlook:

http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/
products/predictions/814day/

30 Day Outlook:

http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov
/products/predictions/30day/

90 Day Outlook:

http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov
/products/predictions/long_range/
seasonal.php?lead=01

If you have any questions or comments about this drought information please contact:

Jeffrey Boyne
Climate Services Focal Point
National Weather Service
La Crosse, WI 54601-3038

Telephone: 608-784-8275
E-mail: Jeff.Boyne@noaa.gov

Additional drought information for Minnesota can be found at the following link:

http://climate.umn.edu/doc/journal/
drought_situation_report_2006.htm

Other Contacts:

For Local Agricultural Impacts:

http://www.csrees.usda.gov/Extension/

For state climate impacts:

http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/aasc.html