National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office

No Change in the Drought Situation

Updated on Thursday, January 17, 2013 - Jeff Boyne
Next Scheduled Update:  Thursday, February 21, 2013
(Note:  Since drought improvements or deteriorations are slow to occur during this time of year, this local drought summary will only be updated twice a month during November and April, and once a month from December through February.  The U.S. Drought Monitor will continue to be updated on a weekly basis.)

Daily Monitoring of Drought Impacts & Outlooks

From December 17th through January 15th, between 0.45 inches (Charles City, IA) and 1.75 inches (Lancaster, WI) of precipitation fell across the area.  Normally, 1.10 inches of precipitation falls during this time period.  The image below shows how much precipitation has fallen during the aforementioned time period.

This precipitation was not enough to change the drought situation across the area.  Abnormally dry (D0) to extreme drought (D3) conditions still exist across the NWS La Crosse Hydrologic Service Area (HSA). 

In the January 15th release of the U.S. Drought Monitor, exceptional drought (D4) still covers much of Nebraska and southern South Dakota.  Extreme drought (D3) remains across northwest, south-central and southwest Minnesota, and west and north-central Iowa. Severe drought (D2) exists across parts of north-central, central and southeast Minnesota; southeast North Dakota; west-central, north-central, and far southern Wisconsin; east-central Iowa, and northern Illinois.  Moderate drought (D1) continues across the Minnesota Arrowhead, northeast Indiana, south-central Upper Michigan, and south-central Lower Michigan.  Abnormally dry (D0) conditions still exist across much of southern Lower Michigan; and central and northeast Wisconsin.

Local Area Affected:

National, State and Local Actions:

Climatological Summary:

From June through July of 2012, precipitation deficits grew rapidly (flash drought) along and south of the Interstate 90 corridor.  Precipitation deficits during this time period ranged from 3 to 5 inches across southeast Minnesota, 4 to 8 inches across northeast Iowa, and 4 to 7 inches across southern Wisconsin.  The dry weather then continued from August into early October.  During this time frame, the precipitation deficits grew by another 2 to 6 inches.  Heavy rains then fell on October 13th-14th, October 24th-25th, and November 11th mainly southeast of a Charles City, IA to Wausau, WI line.  These rain events reduced the precipitation deficits by 2 to 5 inches.  Since then, the area has seen below precipitation and the deficits have grown anywhere from a half inch to 2 inches.

Overall, from June 1st through January 15th, precipitation deficits are running 10 to 13 inches across north-central Iowa, 2 to 12 inches across southeast Minnesota, 7 to 12 inches across northeast Iowa, 7 to 10 inches across west-central and central Wisconsin, and 4 to 11 inches across southwest Wisconsin.

A second flash drought began in July north of the Interstate 94 corridor.  During this time frame, precipitation deficits have grown into the 3 to 9 inch range.

While the top soils have moistened, more rains are needed to restore the moisture in the sub soils.  Due to this, abnormally dry (D0) to extreme (D3) drought still covers the entire La Crosse Hydrologic Service area.

The images below are courtesy of the Midwestern Regional Climate Center and show the temperature and precipitation departures from June 1, 2012 through January 15, 2013.

In the longer term (August 1, 2011 through January 15, 2013), precipitation deficits are running from 6 to 21 inches across southeast Minnesota, 10 to 23 inches across north-central Iowa, 7 to 17 inches across northeast Iowa, 4 to 10 inches across north-central Wisconsin, 10 to 15 inches across west-central Wisconsin, 5 to 13 inches across central Wisconsin, and 8 to 16 inches across southwest Wisconsin.  These precipitation deficits are affecting flows along area rivers and ground water supplies (subsoil moisture). 

The images below are courtesy of the Midwestern Regional Climate Center and show the temperature and precipitation anomalies from August 1, 2011 through January 15, 2013.

The tables below show the precipitation deficits/surpluses for various time periods.

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://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/

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.


Potential Evapotranspiration Rates:

• Iowa
• Minnesota & Wisconsin

Disaster & Drought Assistance:

• USDA
• USDA Blog
• County Drought Disaster List
• FSA
• Emergency Farm Loans
• Emergency Haying & Grazing

City Information:

• Prairie du Chien, WI

Other Drought Web Sites:

• Minnesota DNR
  
• ReadyWisconsin (Part of the
  Wisconsin Emergency
  Management Team)
  
• Wisconsin Department
  of Agriculture, Trade, and
  Consumer Protection

Northeast Iowa:

On January 15th, the latest ground water level south of Eldorado, IA (Fayette County, IA) was 14.25 feet below ground.  This was 0.24 feet closer to the ground than December 18th.  However the water is still 4.55 feet deeper than the normal of 9.70 feet.  

The deepest level ever recorded for this site was 17.33 feet on September 23, 2012.  The shallowest level recorded was 3.46 feet on November 2, 2009.  Data for this site began on January 23, 2009.  The image below is courtesy of the USGS and it shows how the ground water level has declined since June 1, 2012.

Southeast Minnesota:

On January 11th, the ground water level at Lake City, MN (Wabasha County) was 11.13 feet below ground.  This was 0.55 closer to the ground than November 5th (11.68 feet).  The latest water level is 4.30 feet deeper than what it was on June 8, 2012 (6.83 feet). 

The normal ground water level is 9.59 feet.  The lowest ground water level recorded is 12.74 feet on July 26, 2006.

Meanwhile no new ground water levels are available for either Chatfield, MN (Fillmore County) or Wasioja, MN (Dodge County, MN) in southeast Minnesota. 

Western Wisconsin:

On January 13th, the ground water level at Fort McCoy Military Reservation (Monroe County, WI) was 7.75 feet below the ground. This was 1.79 feet deeper than December 17th.  The ground water is 1.86 feet deeper than the normal of 5.89 feet.  

The deepest level ever recorded for this site was 9.25 feet on October 12, 2012.  The shallowest level recorded was 0.48 feet on September 29, 1965.  Data for this site began on November 16, 1949.  Data for this site began on November 16, 1949.  The image below is courtesy of the USGS and it shows how the ground water level has declined since June 1, 2012.

Additional information about ground levels can be found at the:

• USGS Ground-Water Climate Response Network
• Minnesota Climatology Working Group

The CPC seasonal outlook for February through April calls for equal chances for above-, near-, and below-normal temperatures and above-normal precipitation.

• 8 to 14 Day Outlook
• 30 Day Outlook
• 90 Day Outlook
  

If you have any questions or comments about this drought information please contact the NWS La Crosse at:

E-mail: w-arx.webmaster@noaa.gov
Telephone: 608-784-8275

Other Contacts:

Local Agricultural Impacts:

• Cooperative Extension Agency
• Farm Service Agency

State climate impacts:

• American Association of State Climatologists (AASC)