Drought Information Statement for Central and Southern Minnesota and Western Wisconsin Valid March 20, 2025 Issued By: NWS Twin Cities / Chanhassen, MN Contact Information: This product will be updated April 17, 2025 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/MPX/DroughtInformationStatement for previous statements. Please visit https://www.drought.gov/drought-status-updates/ for regional drought status updates. Mixed signal of wet and dry over the last month Drought areas remain relatively unchanged U.S. Drought Monitor Drought intensity and Extent D2 (Severe Drought): A small portion of west central Minnesota near the South Dakota border D1 (Moderate Drought): Most of western Wisconsin, along the I-90 corridor in southern Minnesota and across western Minnesota D0 (Abnormally Dry): Most of central and southern Minnesota outside of northern portions of the Twin Cities metropolitan area A mix of wet and continued dry conditions over the last month has a resulted in a mix of degradation and improvement across central and southern Minnesota Recent Change in Drought Intensity 1-month and 3-month percent of normal precipitation Over the last 30 days, there has been a mix of wet and dry areas across the region For the last 90 days, the most persistently dry area in the region has been along the South Dakota border, where some areas have received less than 50% of normal precipitation 1-week and 1-month temperature departure Both the last week and 30 days have seen well-above normal temperatures with an early start to Spring-like temperatures Summary of Impacts Links: See/submit Condition Monitoring Observer Reports (CMOR) and view the Drought Impacts Reporter Hydrologic Impacts A lack of snow to melt this Spring has resulted in rivers generally running near normal for the time of year, with no snow melt flooding currently occurring (USGS Streamflow). Agricultural Impacts We are out of the growing season. (State USDA Crop Reports). Fire Hazard Impacts The warm temperatures since the end of February has resulted in an early start to the Spring fire season in Minnesota and Wisconsin (MN Fire Danger, WI Fire Danger). There has already been one Red Flag Warning day across western Minnesota on March 10th Other Impacts No known additional impacts. Mitigation Actions None Currently in place. Average streamflow for the past 7 days Hydrologic Conditions and Impacts A lack of a deep snowpack to melt has resulted in no snow melt flooding this Spring Rivers across southern Minnesota and western Wisconsin are generally running near normal Seven Day Precipitation Forecast The heaviest precipitation over the next 7 days is expected across northern and eastern Minnesota into Wisconsin The driest conditions are expected to occur where conditions have been driest over the last 90 days in western Minnesota April Outlooks The latest weekly to seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage The April outlook is a low confidence one. There is no strong signal for above or below normal temperatures for the entire month of April, with all of MN and WI with Equal Chances in the temperature outlook. An active storm track is expected into the Great Lakes in April, with a slight favoring toward above normal precipitation across southeast MN and across WI. There is Equal Chances of above or below normal precipitation across most of MN in April. Drought Outlook The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage Given the active storm track predicted to be to our east into the Great Lakes, drought conditions are largely expected to persist across MN and western WI through the Spring Drought Definitions and State Resources What do those categories mean? Drought Category Definitions: Comprehensive Drought Information for Minnesota: http://www.drought.gov/state/minnesota Comprehensive Drought Information for Wisconsin: http://www.drought.gov/state/wisconsin These sites contain links to resources from each state, to help you dive into drought information in more detail.