Drought Information Statement for Eastern IA, Northwest IL & Northeast MO Valid March 28, 2024 Issued By: WFO Quad Cities IA/IL Contact Information: nws.quadcities@noaa.gov This product will be updated on or after the 4th Thursday of the month 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/dvn/DroughtInformationStatement for previous statements. Drought conditions remained relatively stable throughout the month of March. As chances for precipitation increase in the next few weeks, so will evapo-transpiration needs as the spring green-up commences. This could lead to steady drought conditions again. 1 U.S. Drought Monitor Link to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor Extreme Drought Conditions remain at same level in the DVN County Warning Area (CWA) Drought intensity and Extent Widespread improvements have occurred over the past week. D4 (Exceptional Drought): Now is entirely absent from the DVN CWA. D3 (Extreme Drought): Now covers 15.1% of the DVN CWA. Most of this is within eastern Iowa. D2 (Severe Drought): Now covers 23.4% of the DVN CWA, again with the majority being in eastern Iowa. D1 (Moderate Drought): Now covers over 40.8% of the DVN CWA. Recent Change in Drought Intensity Link to the latest 4-week change map for Midwest Four Week Drought Monitor Class Change. Drought Worsened: Parts of Missouri, Kentucky, southern Illinois and Indiana, as well as northern Minnesota. No Change: Large swaths throughout the region have seen little to no change, including a bulk of the state of Minnesota and central to eastern Iowa. Drought Improved: In a number of places scattered across the lower Midwest, including northern Illinois and western Iowa, most of Kentucky and Indiana, central Missouri and western Michigan. Precipitation Most of the DVN CWA saw average or higher precipitation in the previous week, except in southeast Iowa and northeast Missouri. Outside of the DVN CWA rainfall amounts were also well above average in most of the area to our north and well below average in a band stretching from northeast Oklahoma to southeast Iowa. MRCC Temperature Average temperatures ranged between 30-45 degrees. This is below normal. Regionally, temperatures were generally near to below normal in the Upper Midwest. Summary of Impacts Link Condition Monitoring Observer Reports (CMOR) and view the Drought Impacts Reporter Hydrologic Impacts Streamflows remain well below normal across most of Iowa and near normal in western Illinois. (USGS) Agricultural Impacts Anomalously dry soils remain particularly across eastern Iowa, but we are seeing increasing amounts of available water in the upper soil zones. (CPC Soil Moisture) Fire Hazard Impacts There are no known impacts at this time. Other Impacts Rainfall is forecast next week, in increasing amounts as you head east in the DVN CWA. (WPC Precipitation Totals) Mitigation Actions Please refer to your municipality and/or water provider for mitigation information. Hydrologic Conditions and Impacts Many river levels have returned to lower flows over the past few weeks in the DVN Hydrologic Service Area (HSA). Streamflows are running near normal with only a few running below normal in eastern Iowa. Despite the lower river levels, the Mississippi River remains navigable at this time. Agricultural Impacts Locally, we are observing below normal soil moisture conditions in Iowa and near normal conditions in most of our Illinois service area. The driest soils can be seen in area around the confluence of the Tennessee and Ohio rivers. Much of the local area, along with areas directly north, are seeing near normal available crop moisture. This change can partially be attributed to the end of the traditional growing season. Fire Hazard Impacts Link to Wildfire Potential Outlooks from the National Interagency Coordination Center. Seven Day Precipitation Forecast Through the next 7 days, we are expecting to see 0.1 to 1.75 inches of precipitation with varying local amounts possible. Most of this precipitation is expected to fall as liquid precipitation, due to unseasonably warm temperatures. If these precipitation totals occur, it is possible that we could see drought remain status quo or slight improvements over the next 2 weeks. Rapid Onset Drought Outlook Links to the latest Climate Prediction Center 8 to 14 day Temperature Outlook and Precipitation Outlook. Throughout the region, we are not expecting any further rapid-onset drought, or flooding. Long-Range Outlooks The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage Warmer than normal temperatures are possible for April for the DVN CWA. Equal chances for above or below normal precipitation amounts is possible for April in the DVN CWA and surrounding areas. Drought Outlook The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage Drought will likely persist across the western part of the DVN CWA through the end of June. Drought conditions in the southern part of the DVN CWA will likely be removed by the end of June. Updates once a month, so include in 1st update of the calendar month.