Drought Information Statement for Central Indiana Valid September 20, 2024 Issued By: NWS Indianapolis, IN Contact Information: nws.indianapolis@noaa.gov This product will be updated by October 19, 2024 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/ind/DroughtInformationStatement for previous statements. Please visit https://www.drought.gov/drought-status-updates/ for regional drought status updates. Over 70% of the state is in Moderate Drought (D1) or worse Concern for fires grows–many county burn bans in place U.S. Drought Monitor Drought intensity and Extent D1 (Moderate Drought): Bartholomew, Brown, Clay, Daviess, Greene, Decatur, Delaware, Hancock, Hendricks, Henry, Jackson, Jennings, Johnson, Knox, Lawrence, Marion, Martin, Monroe, Morgan, Owen, Putnam, Randolph, Rush, Shelby, Sullivan, Vigo D0: (Abnormally Dry): Boone, Carroll, Clinton, Fountain, Hamilton, Howard, Madison, Montgomery, Parke, Tippecanoe, Tipton, Vermillion, Warren Recent Change in Drought Intensity Four Week Drought Monitor Class Change 1 class degradation over northern half of the area 2 class degradation over southern half of the area Precipitation Below normal precipitation was the rule across Indiana the past 30 days Much of central Indiana saw 0 to 25% of normal Summary of Impacts Hydrologic Impacts Low pond and lake levels (County Extension Drought Input) Below to well below normal streamflow (USGS) Agricultural Impacts 78% of topsoil moisture was rated short or very short (USDA Indiana Crop Report) Supplemental feeding of livestock ongoing due to poor pasture conditions (USDA Indiana Crop Report, County Extension Drought Input) Fire Hazard Impacts Well over half the state has county burn bans in place (IDHS Burn Ban Status) Above Normal Wildland Fire Potential highlighted for southern Indiana for October (National Interagency Coordination Center) Other Impacts Lawns brown, soils cracking, leaves falling early (County Extension Drought Input) Mitigation Actions None reported Hydrologic Conditions and Impacts Streamflow is below normal across much of Indiana, with near normal values near the Ohio River and in parts of the upper Wabash basin, and much below normal flow in a couple of eastern basins Some algae growth reported (County Extension Drought Input) Agricultural Impacts Soil moisture is well below normal across the state, with the driest values across central and southern Indiana Supplemental feeding of livestock due to poor pasture conditions Crops drying down quicker than usual Fire Hazard Impacts County burn bans are in effect for much of Indiana Parts of southern Indiana included in the Above Normal Risk area for Significant Wildland Fire Potential for October Seven Day Precipitation Forecast The seven day precipitation forecast shows potential for beneficial rainfall across the state. Amounts may be overdone, but models have been trending in this direction. Long-Range Outlooks October outlooks lean toward above normal temperatures over eastern portions of the state, and below normal precipitation over southwestern parts of Indiana Drought Outlook The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage Drought is predicted to persist over the southern half of Indiana, and improve or end across northern Indiana, during the 3 month period ending November 30th