Drought Information Statement for Southern Wisconsin Valid November 22, 2024 Issued By: NWS Milwaukee Contact Information: nws.milwaukee@noaa.gov This product will be updated Dec 19, 2024 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 Drought conditions continue to improve across southern WI Areas north of HWY-151 have been removed from D-0 conditions Areas south of HWY-151 gradually improve as well with D-1 removed from Sheboygan & Lafayette Co. D-2 (Severe Drought) remains across southern Green, Rock, and Walworth Co. 1 Week Drought Condition Class Change Precipitation Rainfall since November 1st shows widespread amounts exceeding 2 inches with the exception of a corridor from Beloit to Waupun. For the 2024 Fall Season (Sep 1-Nov 21): Surplus of 1-3 inches for Iowa, NW Dane, S Sauk, & SW Columbia Co. Deficits of 2-5 inches in the moderate and severe drought areas. Current Conditions 28 Day Streamflow Streamflow across southern Wisconsin has improve to above normal (76-90th percentile) for the majority of southern WI Mississippi River Basin while southern WI Lake Michigan Basin is around normal (25-75th percentile). Soil moisture is normal (30-70th percentile) across southeastern WI and above normal (70-99th percentile) across southwest-central WI where some of the heaviest rain occurred. CPC Calculated Soil Moisture Ranking Percentile Nov 21, 2024 Fire Hazard Impacts Significant wildland fire potential outlook for November and December is normal DNR Fire Danger is low across southern Wisconsin 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. 7 Day Precipitation Forecast 0.50-2.00” There is a chance for some light precipitation across southern Wisconsin this weekend and again later next week, but overall amounts are looking light. 7 Day precipitation totals are looking to remain below a few tenths of an inch for southern Wisconsin. If this verifies, may not see too much in the way of drought improvements through the end of the month Average weekly precipitation this time of year is 0.5 inches. Image from NIDIS Week 2 Outlook For southern Wisconsin, there are enhanced odds for below average temperatures and near normal precipitation through the end of the month. Extended Week 3-4 Outlook Looking further ahead into the first half of December, there is a slight chance to see both above normal temperatures and above normal precipitation for southern WI Dec - Feb Outlook La Nina conditions are developing. During La Nina conditions in Wisconsin, winter can be highly variable. There is no signal one way or the other for temperatures during the December, January, February season, meaning there are equal chances for above, near and below average temperatures. There are slightly increased odds for above average precipitation. Drought Outlook The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage The drought outlook for end of November through February indicates drought is likely to be removed and no drought conditions across southern Wisconsin. Links to the latest: Climate Prediction Center Monthly Drought Outlook Climate Prediction Center Seasonal Drought Outlook