National Weather Service Text Product Display

Drought Information Statement
Issued by NWS La Crosse, WI
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IAZ008>011-018-019-029-030-MNZ079-086>088-094>096-WIZ017-029-032>034-041>044-
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Drought Information Statement
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
919 PM CDT Sat May 22 2021

...Moderate Drought Continues across Much of the Area...

.SYNOPSIS:

.Drought intensity and extent:
From May 11 to May 18, most areas in northeast Iowa, southeast
Minnesota, and western Wisconsin received less than a quarter of an
inch of rain. Typically, 9 tenths of an inch of rain falls during
this time period. The highest rain totals were reported at Calmar,
IA (0.60 inches); Wabasha, MN (0.41 inches); and Theilman, MN (0.26
inches).

From April 1 through May 19, Rochester International Airport has
received 1.79 inches.  This was 3.97 inches below normal.  This was
the second driest start to a growing season.  The only year which
was drier was 2007 (1.31 inches).

With precipitation deficits growing during the week, the abnormally
dry (D0) and moderate (D1) drought conditions remain across the
Upper Mississippi River Valley.

Moderate (D1) Drought in all or parts of:

Northeast Iowa:  Chickasaw, Floyd, Howard, and Mitchell counties.

Southeast Minnesota:  Dodge, Fillmore, Houston, Mower, Olmsted,
Wabasha, and Winona counties.

Western Wisconsin:  La Crosse, Richland, and Vernon counties.
Abnormally Dry (D1) to Moderate (D1) Drought in all or parts of:

Northeast Iowa:  Allamakee, Clayton, Fayette, and Winneshiek
counties.

Western Wisconsin:  Buffalo, Crawford, Grant, Jackson, Juneau,
Monroe, and Trempealeau counties.
Abnormally Dry (D1) in all or parts of:

Western Wisconsin:  Adams, Clark, and Taylor counties.

.Precipitation:
From April 1 through May 19, 2021 (growing year), precipitation
deficits ranged from 3 to 6 inches in southeast Minnesota and
northeast Iowa, and 1 to 6 inches in western Wisconsin.

Since October 1, 2020 (2020-21 water year), precipitation deficits
ranged from 4 to 9 inches in southeast Minnesota and northeast Iowa,
and 2 to 6 inches in western Wisconsin.  The highest deficits were
8.71 inches in Austin MN and 8.93 inches in Nashua IA.

.Hydrologic conditions:

As of the morning of May 18, the river and stream flows ranged from
much below- to near-normal in northeast Iowa, southeast Minnesota,
and western Wisconsin.  The south fork of the Zumbro River at
Rochester MN had a stage of 2.69 feet (69.8 cfs) which was a record
low for the date.  Their records date back to 1983 (length of record
39 years).

NOTE: This is time-sensitive and conditions could change.  Updated
river and streamflow conditions can be found via links to the right.

.SUMMARY OF IMPACTS:

.Agricultural impacts:
The following reports came from the USDAs National Agricultural
Statistics Service for the week ending on May 17, 2021.

Iowa:

Most of Iowa received some precipitation during the week. Statewide
there were 4.8 days suitable for fieldwork during the week. Much of
Iowa continues to need additional precipitation. Normal temperatures
would also aid crop development. Field activities included planting,
spraying, and applying anhydrous and dry fertilizer. Cleaning of
terraces and fence rows was also
reported.

Topsoil moisture levels rated 7% very short, 27% short, 61% adequate
and 5% surplus. Subsoil moisture levels rated 12% very short, 36%
short, 48% adequate and 4% surplus. Nearly one-quarter of west
central Iowas subsoil moisture level continues to be rated very
short.

Planting of Iowas expected corn crop is winding down at 94%
complete, almost 2 weeks ahead of the 5-year average. Only farmers
in west central Iowa have over 10% of their corn crop left to plant.
During the week ending May 16 corn emergence jumped 30 percentage
points to 52%, 4 days ahead of normal. Eighty-three percent of the
soybean crop has been planted, 18 days ahead of the five-year
average. Farmers in southeast Iowa have approximately one-third of
their soybean crop left to plant. Twenty-four percent of the
expected soybean crop has emerged, 1 week ahead of normal. Eighty-
eight percent of the oat crop has emerged with some reports of oats
headed. Iowas oat condition rated 61% good to excellent.

Iowas hay condition rating was 54% good to excellent. Some farmers
have started their first cutting of alfalfa. Pasture condition rated
42% good to excellent. No problems with livestock were reported.

Minnesota:

Minnesota farmers were able to take advantage of 6.0 days suitable
for fieldwork because of mostly dry conditions during the week.
Field activities for the week included corn and soybean planting.

Topsoil moisture supplies were rated 14% very short, 37% short, 48%
adequate and 1% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies were rated 9%
very short, 31% short, 58% adequate and 2% surplus. Dry conditions
continue to be reported.

Minnesotas statewide corn planting progress was nearing completion
at 95%, one day ahead of last year and over 2 weeks ahead of the 5-
year average. Corn emergence reached 39%, which is 4 days behind
last year and 2 days ahead of the 5-year average. Soybean planting
progress was 88% completed, just over one week ahead of last year
and over 2 weeks ahead of average. Soybean emergence reached 10%,
which is 4 days behind last year and 2 days ahead of average. Spring
wheat was 84% emerged, over 2 weeks ahead of 2020 and 16 days ahead
of normal. Spring wheat jointed was 13%, over a week ahead of last
year and the normal. The first report for spring wheat condition was
0% very poor, 0% poor, 22% fair, 63% good, and 15% excellent.

Oats were 95% planted, 6 days ahead of last year and 12 days ahead
of average. Oats were 75% emerged, 5 days ahead last year and a week
ahead of normal. Oats were at 21% jointed, 5 days ahead of last year
and the normal. Oats condition was 1% very poor, 3% poor, 28% fair,
61% good, and 7% excellent. Barley was 94% planted, over one week
ahead of last year and the average. Barley was 73% emerged, 2 weeks
ahead the previous year and 11 days ahead of normal. Barley jointed
was 7%, 4 days ahead of last year and one week ahead of the average.
The first barley condition report for the year was 1% very
poor, 1% poor, 19% fair, 77% good, and 2% excellent. Potato planting
was 82% complete, 6 days ahead of last year and 5 days ahead of the
average. Dry beans were 52% planted, 10 days ahead of last year and
ahead of normal. Dry beans were 5% emerged, 3 days ahead of last
year and 5 days ahead of the average. The sunflowers were 67%
planted, over one week ahead of last year and 10 days ahead of
normal. Hay condition was at 1% very poor, 4% poor, 31% fair, 59%
good, and 5% excellent.

Pasture condition rated 5% very poor, 12% poor, 38% fair, 41% good
and 4% excellent. Pasture growth remained slow in some areas.

Wisconsin:

Wisconsin had 6.6 days suitable for fieldwork for the week.
Temperatures were below normal again this week, with hard freezes
reported in northern Wisconsin at the beginning of the week.
Scattered light rain over the weekend dropped less than a quarter
inch in the majority of the state. Dry field conditions allowed
tillage and planting to make rapid progress, but kept crop emergence
and pasture growth slow. Rain is needed to jump start crop growth
and development, particularly in southern Wisconsin. Some producers
were chopping winter small grains for forage.

Topsoil moisture condition rated 15% very short, 28% short, 55%
adequate and 2% surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 11% very
short, 25% short, 60% adequate and 4% surplus.

Corn is reported 78% planted, even with last year but 11 days ahead
of the 5-year average. Twenty-four percent of corn had emerged, 3
days ahead of last year and 5 days ahead of the average.

Soybeans are reported 63% planted, 2 days ahead of last year and 13
days ahead of the average. Soybeans are reported 12% emerged, 4 days
ahead of last year and 7 days ahead of the average.

Oats are reported 92% planted, 6 days ahead of last year and 15 days
ahead of the average. Sixty-eight percent of oats are emerged, 6
days ahead of last year and 10 days ahead of the average. Oat
condition is rated 74% good to excellent, 4 percentage points better
than last week.

Potatoes are 91% planted, 14 days ahead of last year and 11 days
ahead of the average. Winter wheat is reported 1% headed, mostly
based on reports from southern Wisconsin.

Winter wheat is reported 1% headed, mostly based on reports from
southern Wisconsin. Winter wheat condition was rated 87% good to
excellent statewide, down 1 percentage point from last week.

All Hay condition was rated 65% good to excellent, 7 percentage
points below last week.

Spring tillage is reported 93% complete, 4 days ahead of last year
and 18 days ahead of the average.

Pasture condition was rated 58% good to excellent, 4 percentage
points below last week.

.Fire hazards:
As of the morning of May 18, fire danger ranged from moderate (fires
start easily and spread at a moderate rate) to high (fires start
easily and spread at a fast rate) in southeast Minnesota and western
Wisconsin.

NOTE: This is time-sensitive and conditions could change day-to-day
Fire conditions can change drastically on drier, windy days.
Updated DNR fire conditions can be found via links to the right.

Citizens should always check with local officials in their area
before undertaking any outside burning.  Citizens are liable for
damages and suppression costs of any wildfire they may start.

.DROUGHT MITIGATION ACTIONS:
None reported.

.LOCAL DROUGHT OUTLOOK:
From May 20 to May 25, temperatures and precipitation will average
near- to above-normal.  During this time frame, daily average
temperatures range from 59 to 64 degrees and the normal
precipitation is around 9 tenths of an inch.

Beyond this time frame, the 8 to 14-day forecast (May 26-June 1)
from the Climate Prediction Center (CPC) calls for enhanced chances
for above-normal temperatures and precipitation.  The daily average
temperatures for this period range from 61 to 66 degrees and the
normal precipitation is around 1.10 inches.

From June through August (meteorological summer seasonal outlook),
the Climate Prediction Center has tilted the odds toward warmer
across the Upper Mississippi River Valley.  Meanwhile, the
precipitation outlook is for equal chances of wetter-, near-, and
drier-than-normal.

.NEXT ISSUANCE DATE:

This product will be updated on Thursday, May 27.

Additional information on current drought conditions may be found at
the following web addresses:

U.S. Drought Monitor: www.droughtmonitor.unl.edu
U.S. Drought Portal: www.drought.gov
Climate Prediction Center (CPC): www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov
Midwestern Regional Climate Center: mrcc.isws.illinois.edu
WI State Climatology Office: www.aos.wisc.edu/~sco
MN Climatology Working Group: climateapps.dnr.state.mn.us/index.htm
IA Climatology Bureau: www.iowaagriculture.gov/climatology.asp

Additional water and river information:
NWS: water.weather.gov
OWP: water.noaa.gov
U.S. Geologic Survey (USGS): water.usgs.gov
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE): www.mvp.usace.army.mil

.ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:

The U.S. Drought Monitor is a multi-agency effort involving NOAAs
National Weather Service and National Centers for Environmental
Information, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), state and
regional climatologists, and the National Drought Mitigation Center.
Information for this statement was gathered from NWS and Federal
Aviation Administration (FAA) observation sites, state cooperative
extension services, USACE and USGS.

.CONTACT INFORMATION:
Should you have any questions or comments about this drought
statement, please contact:

National Weather Service
N2788 County Road FA
La Crosse, WI 54601
Phone: 608-784-7294
Email: W-ARX.WEBMASTER@NOAA.GOV

$$

Boyne
National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office
