Drought Information Statement for Central Indiana Valid October 4, 2024 Issued By: NWS Indianapolis, IN Contact Information: nws.indianapolis@noaa.gov This product will be updated by November 1, 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. Helene brought much needed moisture for improvements across the state Long term forecast and pattern is dry, raising concern that drought conditions will return/worsen U.S. Drought Monitor Drought intensity and Extent D1 (Moderate Drought): Delaware D0: (Abnormally Dry): Bartholomew, Brown, Carroll, Clay, Clinton, Daviess, Decatur, Fountain, Greene, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Henry, Howard, Jackson, Jennings, Johnson, Knox, Lawrence, Madison, Marion, Martin, Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, Owen, Parke, Putnam, Randolph, Rush, Shelby, Sullivan, Tippecanoe, Tipton, Vermillion, Vigo, Warren Recent Change in Drought Intensity Four Week Drought Monitor Class Change 1 class degradation over some northern counties 1 class improvement over southwestern counties No change over much of central Indiana from 4 weeks ago Precipitation Below normal precipitation was the rule across much of Indiana the past 30 days, with above normal precipitation across only the far southern and southeastern counties Summary of Impacts Some pond levels remain lower than normal (County Extension Drought Input) Agricultural Impacts Increased soil moisture levels aided germination of winter wheat and cover crops Pasture conditions improved slightly. Some supplemental feeding of livestock continues due to degraded pasture conditions (USDA Indiana Crop Report, County Extension Drought Input) Fire Hazard Impacts County burn bans removed (IDHS Burn Ban Status) An extended dry forecast raises concerns for wildfire hazards by mid-October Other Impacts None reported Mitigation Actions None reported Hydrologic Conditions and Impacts Streamflow is near normal across most of Indiana, with above normal streamflow across southern Indiana along the Ohio River and above normal in parts of the White basin Agricultural Impacts Soil moisture is near normal across southern portions of the state as well as a small strip along the northern border, with an area of drier than normal in middle and northern portions between Increased soil moisture levels aided germination of winter wheat and cover crops Pasture conditions improved slightly (29 percent in good to excellent condition) Fire Hazard Impacts County burn bans removed across the state with the exception of far northwest Indiana An extended dry forecast raises concerns for wildfire hazards by mid-October Long-Range Outlooks October outlooks show equal chances for all outcomes for temperatures, and a lean toward below normal precipitation over the state Drought Outlook Drought is predicted to persist over the parts of southwestern Indiana, and improve or end across the rest of the state during the 3 month period ending December 31st