Drought Information Statement for NE Minnesota & NW Wisconsin Valid November 22, 2024 Issued By: NWS Duluth, MN Contact Information: Next Update: Friday, December 6, 2024 Severe Drought conditions have improved to Moderate Drought conditions for the North Shore, Brainerd Lakes and into the Twin Ports over the last two weeks. The North Shore experienced a heavy rainfall of 2 to 4 inches Monday into Tuesday of this week, with a widespread 0.5 to 1.25 inches of rain across the rest of the Northland. U.S. Drought Monitor Drought intensity and Extent D2 (Severe Drought): Arrowhead, Iron Range, Leech Lake area, South Shore, and part of inland northwest Wisconsin. D1 (Moderate Drought): The remainder of inland northwest Wisconsin not in a Severe Drought, North Shore, Twin Ports and Brainerd Lakes. D0: (Abnormally Dry): Near International Falls and in the St. Croix River Valley. Recent Change in Drought Intensity One Week Drought Monitor Class Change. Drought Worsened: Not Applicable. No Change: The remainder of the Northland that didn’t see drought improve. Drought Improved: North Shore, Twin Ports and the Brainerd Lakes. Precipitation Regional precipitation in the past month ranges from slightly-below normal to a small pocket of well-above normal. Small parts of the North Shore and east-central Minnesota are above normal for rainfall. The North Shore observed a general 2-4 inches of rainfall this past Monday into Tuesday. A few pockets of the Borderlands are below-normal. The remainder of the Northland is within +- 0.5 inches of normal rainfall over the past month. Temperature Temperatures have been an average of 4°F to 8°F above normal across the entire Northland over the past month. Temperatures that were observed in the Northland over the last month Summary of Impacts Hydrologic Impacts Streamflows are running much-below to normal for all of northeast Minnesota. Northwest Wisconsin streamflows are normal (USGS Streamflow). Agricultural Impacts Pockets of well-below normal soil moisture in northeast Minnesota and northwest Wisconsin, but the vast majority of the region is only below to normal soil moisture (Soil Moisture) Fire Hazard Impacts Fire danger is Low for north-central and northeast Minnesota (MN Fire Danger). Fire danger is also Low for northwest Wisconsin (WI Fire Danger). Other Impacts Less water for wildlife. Change in wetlands, swamps, and creeks. Mitigation Actions Burn Restrictions - Burning permits are required in northeast Minnesota. Hydrologic Conditions and Impacts Northeast Minnesota - Streams are running much-below to normal for all of northeast Minnesota. Northwest Wisconsin - Streams are running around normal to a few being below normal in northwest Wisconsin Agricultural Impacts Pockets of well-below normal soil moisture in northeast Minnesota and northwest Wisconsin, but the vast majority of the region is only below to normal soil moisture Fire Hazard Impacts Significant Wildland Fire Potential conditions are normal for December. Seven Day Precipitation Forecast A weak clipper is forecast to move through Manitoba and northwest Ontario Sunday November 24th. This could (30-60% chance) bring 1-3” of snowfall to the Northland. The highest amount closer to 2-3” are expected north of the Iron Range and into the Arrowhead. South Shore snowbelt locations then see additional light snow chances Monday November 25th. Rapid Onset Drought Outlook Links to the latest Climate Prediction Center 8 to 14 day Temperature Outlook and Precipitation Outlook. No rapid onset drought expected. Long-Range Outlooks The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage Longer-term forecasts show no significant signals for either above normal or below normal temperatures for the month of December. Longer-term forecasts show no significant signals for either above normal or below normal precipitation for the month of December. Drought Outlook The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage Drought is expected to persist in north-central MN, improve in the northern Arrowhead, and end in the Twin Ports to North Shore and across northwest Wisconsin.