Fresh Snow and Temperature Outlook Ahead of Christmas Day

If you are looking for fresh snow by Christmas morning or are curious about potential travel disruptions, the best chances for at least 1" of new snowfall early this week exist across the mountainous West, Great Lakes, and Northeast. Otherwise, temperatures this last full week of December will average above normal for much of the lower 48 states. Read More >

Drought
Monitor
Local
Drought
Statement
Drought Impacts
Recent
Precipitation
& Temperatures
Precipitation
Forecasts
Monthly
& Seasonal
Drought Outlooks
Acknowledgements
& Additional Info

Local Drought Statement

Drought Monitor (Drought Severity)

U.S. Drought Monitor

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.

Note: Drought categories are based on many factors over an area and may not necessarily match isolated, specific areas. Small-scale factors, such as localized heavy rain from thunderstorms, may affect the drought level over a small area, which may not necessarily be reflected in the maps.

The U.S. Drought Monitor is a weekly collaborative effort between a number of federal agencies including NOAA/ NWS, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, and the National Drought Mitigation Center. The Drought Monitor is updated every Thursday based upon information valid on Tuesday.

Map showing the Illinois Drought Monitor

Map showing the Drought Monitor for the NWS Chicago area

Drought Impacts

Soil Moisture

Daily Soil Moisture Anomaly

Daily Soil Moisture Percentile

Monthly Soil Moisture Anomaly Change

Map showing the daily soil moisture anomaly from the Climate Prediction Center

Map showing the daily soil moisture percentile from the Climate Prediction Center

Map showing the monthly change in soil moisture from the Climate Prediction Center

Observed Soil Moisture: Freeport

Observed Soil Moisture: DeKalb

Observed Soil Moisture: St. Charles

Graph showing measured soil moisture compared to climatology

Observed Soil Moisture: Stelle

Observed Soil Moisture: Peoria

Observed Soil Moisture: Champaign

Agriculture

Palmer Drought Severity Index

Crop Moisture Index

Keetch-Byram Drought Index (about)
Keetch-Byram Departure from Normal

Map showing the Palmer Drought Severity Index

Map showing the Crop Moisture Index

Map showing the Keetch-Byram Drought Index

For the impact on area crops, visit the
USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service:

Illinois Weather & Crop Information

Indiana Weather & Crop Information

Rivers

USGS 7-Day Average Streamflow: Upper Mississippi River Basin

USGS 7-Day Average Streamflow: Hydrologic Drought

Map showing the upper midwest 7-day average streamflow from the US Geological Survey

Map showing the upper midwest 7-day average streamflow highlighting locations experiencing hydrologic drought

Image showing the USGS streamflow percentiles

More information on current river conditions:

More information on drought impacts to rivers:

Hydrology-related drought impacts page

Fire

WFAS Observed Fire Danger Class		WFAS Forecast Fire Danger Class


WFAS 10-Hour Fuel Moisture		WFAS Forecast 10-Hour Fuel Moisture


For wildfire potential, visit: National Interagency Fire Center Significant Wildfire Outlook
Additional Fire Weather Information from NWS Chicago

Other Impacts

National Drought Mitigation Center

Drought Impact Reporter

CoCoRaHS

Condition Monitoring

Farm Week Now

Illinois CropWatchers

Recent Precipitation & Temperatures

Maps Courtesy of the Midwestern Regional Climate Center

7-Day Running Averages/Totals & Departures
7-Day Avg. Temperature Departure	7-Day Precipitation Total	7-Day Precipitation Total Percent of Mean


Last 30 Day Maps
Last 30 Day Avg. Temperature Departure	Last 30 Day Precipitation Total	Last 30 day Precipitation Total Percent of Mean

Precipitation Forecasts

Local Precipitation Forecasts (NWS - LOT)
National Precipitation Forecasts (WPC)

3-Day Total Rainfall Amount Forecast	5-Day Total Rainfall Amount Forecast	7-Day Total Rainfall Amount Forecast

For probabilistic temperature and precipitation outlooks for week 2 and beyond,
consult these Climate Prediction Center (CPC) sites:

Week 2 Outlook
(images below)

30-Day Outlook

90-Day Outlook

6-10 Day Temperature Outlook

6-10 Day Precipitation Outlook

Map showing the temperature outlook for days 6-10

Map showing the precipitation outlook for days 6-10

8-14 Day Temperature Outlook	8-14 Day Precipitation Outlook

Monthly and Seasonal Drought Outlooks

U.S. Monthly Drought Outlook	U.S. Seasonal Drought Outlook

Acknowledgements & Additional Information

The drought monitor is a multi-agency effort involving NOAA's National Weather Service and National Climatic Data Center, the USDA, State and Regional Center Climatologists and the National Drought Mitigation Center. Information for the drought statements has been gathered from NWS, FAA and CoCoRaHS observation sites, Iowa State and Illinois Cooperative Extension Services, the USDA, COE and USGS.