Drought Information Statement for Southern Wisconsin Valid Nov. 16, 2023 Issued By: NWS Milwaukee Contact Information: nws.milwaukee@noaa.gov This product will be updated Dec. 21, 2023 or sooner if conditions change considerably. Please see all currently available products at https://drought.gov/drought-information-statements Please visit https://www.weather.gov/mkx/DroughtInformationStatement for previous statements. 1 Wisconsin Drought Update No change in drought intensity this week, but below normal rainfall was observed over the drought area. Moderate to Severe drought continues over Sauk, Marquette, and portions of Columbia and Green Lake Counties. Just minor precipitation is expected for the next week. Precipitation Precipitation deficits over the past month has run 1-2 inches over much of south central and southwest WI. Precipitation deficits over the past 3 months has run 2.5-5 inches over much of south central and southwest WI. The below normal rainfall is maintaining the drought over portions of southwest and south central WI. Current Conditions 28 Day Streamflow Portions of southwest WI continues to experience dry soils, which includes subsoil moisture, as reported by CPC and the USDA Crop Progress & Conditions report. Much of the rivers streamflows is near normal (25-75%) in the drought areas. CPC Calculated Soil Moisture Ranking Percentile Nov. 14, 2023 Fire Hazard Impacts Significant Wildland Fire Potential Outlook from the National Interagency Coordination Center indicates normal wildland fire potential for the remainder of November. WI DNR Fire Danger is rated high for S WI. The growing season has ended due to widespread freeze with the resultant increase in dead and dry vegetation. Wildfires will be possible if rain and snow remains below normal. Image Caption: Significant Wildland Fire Potential Monthly Outlook Link to Wildfire Potential Outlooks from the National Interagency Coordination Center Latest WI DNR Fire Danger map available here and DNR Burn Restrictions available here. NICC outlook maps are set to auto-update. New maps are produced on the first weekday of each month (see direct links below) Can also include Burn Ban info here If your area or state has other parameters available (i.e KBDI, ERC, etc) you can add these as well. 1-Month: https://www.nifc.gov/nicc-files/predictive/outlooks/month1_outlook.png 2-Month: https://www.nifc.gov/nicc-files/predictive/outlooks/month2_outlook.png 3-Month:https://www.nifc.gov/nicc-files/predictive/outlooks/month3_outlook.png 4-Month: https://www.nifc.gov/nicc-files/predictive/outlooks/month4_outlook.png Homepage: https://www.nifc.gov/nicc/predictive-services/outlooks Summary of Impacts Hydrologic Impacts Streamflows are in the normal range, 25-75th percentile. Agricultural Impacts The growing season has ended. Yields were reduced. Fire Hazard Impacts The WI DNR Fire Danger is rated high for southern WI. Wildfires will be possible if below normal precipitation continues. Mitigation Actions No known actions. Links: See/submit Condition Monitoring Observer Reports (CMOR) and view the Drought Impacts Reporter 7 Day Precipitation Forecast 0.50-2.00” Just minor precipitation is forecast for the next week. Well above normal temperatures will drop back to near normal beginning Friday and continuing into early next week. Therefore, little to no relief is expected over the drought areas. Week 2 Outlook There are increased chances for below normal temperatures and below normal precipitation for Nov. 23-29. Extended Week 3-4 Outlook There is tendency toward above normal temperatures for the end of Nov. and early Dec., while the forecast is for equal chances of above or below normal precipitation. November - January Outlook There is a tendency toward above normal temperatures for winter due to El Nino, with equal chances for above or below normal precipitation. Drought Outlook The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage The drought is expected to persist the remainder of November and into December. The seasonal drought outlook, which is through the end of January 2024, expects the drought to remain, but improve. Links to the latest: Climate Prediction Center Monthly Drought Outlook Climate Prediction Center Seasonal Drought Outlook Both the Monthly and the Seasonal Drought Outlook images will auto-populate, but please only include one on the slide, moving the other off to the right. Use whichever image tells the best story for your area of interest. Be sure to use the correct caption box and edit the released and valid dates as well. You can and should reference the temperature and precipitation outlooks to support the message, but please keep this slide to 1 image. Discussions: https://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/expert_assessment/mdo_summary.php https://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/expert_assessment/sdo_summary.php For USAPI, can consider using NMME imagery for temperature and/or precipitation to help message potential drought improvement/degradation/amelioration.