Drought Information Statement for Eastern IA, Northwest IL & Northeast MO Valid December 1, 2023 Issued By: WFO Quad Cities IA/IL Contact Information: nws.quadcities@noaa.gov This product will be updated December 15, 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 42.9% of the DVN CWA, again with the majority being in eastern Iowa. D1 (Moderate Drought): Now covers over 65.5% of the DVN CWA. Recent Change in Drought Intensity Four Week Drought Monitor Class Change. Drought Worsened: Through much of southeast Kentucky and southern Illinois. No Change: Areas scattered throughout the region have seen little to no change, including a bulk of the states of Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. Drought Improved: In a few places scattered across the Midwest. Precipitation Most of the DVN CWA saw well below average rainfall in the previous week. Outside of the DVN CWA rainfall amounts were also well below average in most of the surrounding region. Temperature Average temperatures ranged between 20-30 degrees. This is well below normal. Regionally, temperatures were generally well below normal in the Midwest especially in the eastern parts of Iowa and central Wisconsin, and northern Illinois. 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 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 0.75 inch or less of rain with varying local amounts possible. Some of this rain could fall as various types of winter precipitation. If these precipitation totals occur, it is possible that we could see drought conditions remain the same. 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 persist across the DVN CWA. Where drought conditions will remain, the impacts will remain consistent through the end of February.