Drought Information Statement for Northeast IA, Southeast MN, & Western, WI Valid November 26, 2024 Issued By: WFO La Crosse, WI Contact Information: w-arx.webmaster@noaa.gov This product will be updated Thursday, December 5, 2024. 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. Little Change in the Drought This Week Drought intensity and extent... D0 (Abnormally Dry) and D1 (Moderate Drought) conditions exist across much of northeast Iowa, southeast Minnesota, and in northwest Buffalo and northwest Taylor counties in Wisconsin. D0 (Abnormally Dry) conditions exist in all or parts of Clark, Grant, Jackson, La Crosse, Trempealeau, and Vernon counties in Wisconsin. 1-Week Drought Monitor Class Change... During the past week, there was a 1-category improvement in parts of Dodge, Mower, Olmsted, and Fillmore counties in southeast Minnesota. Precipitation... From August 28 through November 26 (past 90 days), precipitation totals ranged from 4.44" near Oelwein, IA to 12.67" near Bloomington, WI. Rainfall departures ranged from 3" wetter-than-normal to 3" drier than normal. The largest deficits (up to 3") were west of the Mississippi River and north of Interstate 90 in Wisconsin. Temperature... During the past week (November 20 to November 26), temperatures ranged from 2°F to 8°F warmer than normal. During the past month (October 28 through November 26), average temperatures ranged from 6°F to 10°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 As of the morning of November 26, fire danger ranged from low (fires are not easily started) to moderate (fires start easily and spread at a moderate rate) in northeast Iowa. Meanwhile, fire danger was low in southeast Minnesota and from southwest into central Wisconsin. Other Impacts There are no known impacts at this time. Mitigation Actions No known actions are taking place in northeast Iowa, southeast Minnesota, and western Wisconsin. Hydrologic Conditions and Impacts During the past week (November 20 through November 26), precipitation totals ranged from none at Elma, IA and New Hampton, IA to 0.59" near Mauston, WI. Typically between 0.3 to 0.4" of precipitation falls during this time period. This resulted in a small improvement in the drought in southeast Minnesota. From August 28 through November 26 (past 90 days), precipitation totals ranged from 4.44" near Oelwein, IA to 12.67" near Bloomington, WI. Rainfall departures ranged from 3" wetter-than-normal to 3" drier than normal. As of the morning of November 26, rivers and stream flows ranged from near normal to above normal in northeast Iowa, southeast Minnesota, and from southwest into central Wisconsin. Agricultural Impacts... During the past month, above-normal rainfall has resulted in some improvement in top- and sub-soil moisture. This above-normal rainfall ended the drought across much of southwest and central Wisconsin. Fire Hazard Impacts... As of the morning of November 26, 2024, fire danger ranged from low (fires are not easily started) to moderate (fires start easily and spread at a moderate rate) in northeast Iowa. Meanwhile, fire danger was low in southeast Minnesota and from southwest into central Wisconsin. Link to Wildfire Potential Outlooks from the National Interagency Coordination Center. Seven Day Precipitation Forecast... From November 29 through December 6, the Weather Prediction Center (WPC) is forecasting up to a tenth of an inch of precipitation in central and southwest Wisconsin. Normal precipitation is between 3/10” and 4/10” for this time period. Rapid Onset Drought Outlook... From December 7 through December 13, rapid onset drought (at least a 2-category degradation) is not expected in northeast Iowa, southeast Minnesota, and from southwest into central Wisconsin. Long-Range Outlooks... From December through February, the Climate Prediction Center (CPC) has equal chances of warmer-, near-, and colder-than-normal for the Upper Mississippi River Valley. The odds are tilted to wetter-than-normal (33 to 40%) for meteorological winter in the Upper Mississippi River Valley. Drought Outlook... The drought is expected to either improve or end by the end of February 2025.