Drought Information Statement for Northeast IA, Southeast MN, & Western, WI Valid May 16, 2024 Issued By: WFO La Crosse, WI Contact Information: w-arx.webmaster@noaa.gov This product will be updated May 23, 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/ARX/DroughtInformationStatement for previous statements. Please visit https://www.drought.gov/drought-status-updates/ for regional drought status updates. There were no changes in the drought during the past week. U.S. Drought Monitor... Drought intensity and Extent D0: (Abnormally Dry) to D2 (Severe Drought): South of Interstate 90 in northeast Iowa and southwest Wisconsin. D0: (Abnormally Dry) to D1 (Moderate Drought): Southeast Minnesota. Recent Change in Drought Intensity... During the past week, there was no change in the drought for NWS La Crosse, WI Hydrologic Service Area (HSA). Precipitation... From May 8 through May 14, rainfall totals ranged from 0" near Mantorville, MN to 3.95" near Warrens, WI. Normally, around 0.9" of precipitation falls during this period. The heaviest rainfall fell in areas which were not either abnormally dry (D0) or in drought (D1-D2). Temperature... During the past week (May 8 through May 14), maximum temperatures ranged from 1°F to 3°F warmer than normal to normal. During the past month (April 15 through May 14), maximum temperatures ranged from 1°F to 4°F warmer than normal. Summary of Impacts... Hydrologic Impacts There are no known impacts at this time. Agricultural Impacts There are no known impacts at this time. Fire Hazard Impacts There are no known impacts at this time. Other Impacts There are no known impacts at this time. Mitigation Actions There is a Drought Watch for Region 3 in northeast Iowa. For more information, see the Iowa Drought Plan. Hydrologic Conditions and Impacts... From May 8 through May 14, rainfall totals ranged from 0" near Mantorville, MN to 3.95" near Warrens, WI. Normally, around 0.9" of precipitation falls during this period. The heaviest rainfall fell outside of the abnormally dry (D0) and drought (D1 to D2) areas. As of the morning of May 14, rivers and stream flows range from normal to much above normal in northeast Iowa, from normal to above normal in southeast Minnesota, and from central to western Wisconsin. Agricultural Impacts... Due to precipitation during the past 2 months, top soil moisture has returned to normal for northeast Iowa, southeast Minnesota, and western Wisconsin. Fire Hazard Impacts... As of the morning of May 14, 2024, fire danger was high (fires start easily and spread at a high rate) fire danger in Dodge and Mower counties in southeast Minnesota, and Adams County in central Wisconsin. Moderate (fires start easily and spread at a moderate rate) fire danger was found in Fillmore, Houston, Olmsted, Wabasha, and Winona counties in southeast Minnesota, and Clark, Jackson, Juneau, Monroe, and Taylor counties in western Wisconsin. Seven Day Precipitation Forecast... From May 16 through May 23, the Weather Prediction Center (WPC) is forecasting 1.75 to 2.5” across the area. Normal precipitation is around 1.2” for this time period. Rapid Onset Drought Outlook... From May 24-30, rapid onset drought (at least a 2-category degradation) is not expected. Long-Range Outlooks... From June through August, there is enhanced chances for warmer-than-normal temperatures. Meanwhile, there are equal chances of wetter-, near-, and drier-than-normal. Drought Outlook... According to the latest U.S. Seasonal Drought Outlook (May 16 through August 31), the drought is expected to improve along and south of Interstate 90.