Drought Information Statement for Eastern IA, Northwest IL & Northeast MO Valid November 17, 2023 Issued By: WFO Quad Cities IA/IL Contact Information: nws.quadcities@noaa.gov This product will be updated December 1, 2023 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. 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 26.4% of the DVN CWA. Most of this is within eastern Iowa. D2 (Severe Drought): Now covers 38.2% of the DVN CWA, again with the majority being in eastern Iowa. D1 (Moderate Drought): Now covers over 62.4% of the DVN CWA. Recent Change in Drought Intensity Four Week Drought Monitor Class Change. Drought Worsened: Through much of southeast Kentucky, southern Iowa, and southern Illinois. No Change: Areas scattered throughout the region have seen little to no change, including a bulk of the state of Iowa. Michigan remains majority drought free. Drought Improved: Through many areas of the upper Midwest, and a large swath from western Missouri through northern Ohio. Precipitation Most of the DVN CWA saw well below average rainfall in the previous week. Outside of the DVN CWA rainfall amounts were also very low in northern Illinois, parts of Ohio and Indiana, and most of Kentucky Temperature Average temperatures ranged between 40-50 degrees. This is well above normal. Regionally, temperatures were generally well above normal in the Midwest especially in the western parts of Iowa and Wisconsin, and most of Minnesota. Summary of Impacts Hydrologic Impacts Streamflows remain much below normal across most basins in eastern Iowa and northeast Missouri. Most basins across Illinois are near normal. Agricultural Impacts Anomalously dry soils remain, with crop moisture abnormally to excessively dry throughout the region. Other Impacts Rainfall is forecast next week, in increasing amounts as you head south and east in the DVN CWA. 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 2 weeks in the DVN Hydrologic Service Area (HSA). Streamflows are running below to much below normal in many basins in Iowa. Despite the low levels, the Mississippi River still remains navigable at this time. Agricultural Impacts Locally, we are observing well below normal soil moisture conditions. The driest soils can be seen throughout eastern Iowa and Missouri. 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. Seven Day Precipitation Forecast Through the next 7 days, we are expecting to see 0.5 inch or less of rain with varying local amounts possible. If these precipitation totals occur, it is possible that we could see drought conditions worsen. Rapid Onset Drought Outlook Throughout the region, we are not expecting any further rapid-onset drought, or flooding. Long-Range Outlooks Above normal chances for warmer than normal temperatures are favored for December for much of the eastern half of the country. Equal chances for above or below normal precipitation amounts is possible for December in much of the Upper Midwest. Drought Outlook Drought will improve across the DVN CWA. Drought will likely be removed in far eastern areas of Iowa and Missouri as well as western Illinois. Where drought conditions will remain, the impacts will gradually improve through the end of January.