Drought Information Statement for Central and Southeast Illinois
Valid December 14, 2023
Issued By: WFO Lincoln, IL
Contact Information: nws.lincoln@noaa.gov

This product will be updated by Dec. 22, 2023 unless conditions improve.  
Please see all currently available products at https://drought.gov/drought-information-statements.
Please visit https://www.weather.gov/ilx/DroughtInformationStatement for previous statements. 
1

U.S. Drought Monitor
Drought Intensity and Extent: 
D2: (Severe Drought): Focused on south central and southeast Illinois, including  Effingham, Jasper, Crawford, Clay, Richland, and Lawrence Counties and portions of Crawford County. Portions of Cumberland and Clark Counties are included as well, along with Schuyler County in west central Illinois.
D1 (Moderate Drought): Focused south of a Shelbyville to Danville line in east central Illinois including Shelby, Coles, Edgar, Cumberland, and Clark Counties. Portions of Schuyler and Scott Counties in west central Illinois are included as well. 




Recent Change in Drought Intensity
One Week Drought Monitor Class Change. 
Drought Worsened: 
Southern Cumberland and Clark Counties
Northern Jasper County
Eastern Crawford and Lawrence Counties
 
No Change: Most of central Illinois has seen conditions remain status quo. 



Precipitation
Rainfall over the last 30 days has averaged 25 to 50% of normal over east central and southeast Illinois. 



Summary of Impacts
Low flows on area streams and rivers, as well as below normal reservoir levels on Lake Shelbyville

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
None reported

Hydrologic Conditions and Impacts
Streamflows are below 25th percentile in southeast and east central Illinois, as well as west central Illinois.

Lake Shelbyville has slightly below normal water level (0.82 foot below normal), while other large water sources such as Lake Springfield and Lake Decatur have slightly above normal water levels for this time of year. 


Agricultural Impacts
Agricultural impacts are not significant at this time, as crops are harvested or dormant at this time of year


Image Captions:
Left: Keetch-Byram Drought Index courtesy of the Midwestern Regional Climate Center, valid August 31, 2023
Right: Significant Wildland Fire Potential Monthly Outlook for August 2023
Link to Wildfire Potential Outlooks from the National Interagency Coordination Center.

Seven Day Precipitation Forecast
The only rain chances are expected Saturday and Saturday night, with amounts potential over a half inch east of I-57.





Rapid Onset Drought Outlook

Long Range Outlooks
The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage
The ongoing El Niño pattern favors higher odds of precipitation being below normal through the winter.


Monthly outlook (issued last day of month)
Seasonal outlook (issued 3rd Thursday of month)
Monthly outlook (issued 3rd Thursday of month)

Drought Outlook
The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage
Drought conditions are likely to persist in east-central and southeast Illinois, as well as west-central Illinois, much of the winter.

Image Caption: 
Climate Prediction Center Seasonal Drought Outlook Released November 30, 2023 valid for December through February
Links to the latest:
Climate Prediction Center Monthly Drought Outlook 
Climate Prediction Center Seasonal Drought Outlook