Drought Information Statement for Southern Wisconsin Valid Dec. 21, 2023 Issued By: NWS Milwaukee Contact Information: nws.milwaukee@noaa.gov This product will be updated Jan. 18, 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 and no significant changes within the past month, but below normal precip was observed over the drought area. Moderate to Severe drought continues over Sauk, Marquette, and portions of Columbia and Green Lake Counties. However, above normal precip is expected over the next week. Precipitation Precipitation deficits over the past month have run 0.5-1.5 inches over much of central and southwest WI. Precipitation over the past 3 months is largely right around normal with areas in the southeast and toward west-central WI running above normal. No major deviations in rainfall from normal over the past 3 months has kept our drought conditions fairly steady. Current Conditions 28 Day Streamflow Portions of southwest WI and to a lesser degree central 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 are near normal (25-75%) across southern WI, especially in the drought areas. Fire Hazard Impacts Significant Wildland Fire Potential Outlook from the National Interagency Coordination Center indicates normal wildland fire potential for the remainder of December. WI DNR Fire Danger is rated low for S WI. Wildfires will remain possible if rain and snow remains below normal, though the forecast suggests the rest of December will be on the wet side. 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 No agricultural impacts expected at this time. Fire Hazard Impacts The WI DNR Fire Danger is rated low for southern WI. 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” Above normal precipitation over the next 7 days with 0.5-1.25 inches expected Well above normal temperatures will allow for all precipitation to fall as rain. Some relief would be expected from the coming rainfall but long term drought conditions will likely remain. Week 2 Outlook There are increased chances for above normal temperatures and below normal precipitation for Dec. 28-Jan. 3. Extended Week 3-4 Outlook There is strong tendency toward above normal temperatures and for below normal precipitation for early January. November - January Outlook There is a tendency toward above normal temperatures for winter due to El Nino, with higher chances for 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 December and into January. The seasonal drought outlook, which is through the end of February 2024, expects the drought to persist across southwest and west central WI. 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.