Drought in Richland, Wisconsin

Severe (D2) drought slightly eased in far southern Richland County due to up to 1 above normal monthly liquid equivalent precipitation totals near 2 through January. While similar totals fell elsewhere, long-standing abnormally dry conditions, 6 to 10 below normal since June 1st, 2023, resulted in severe (D2) drought persisting for most of Richland County through January.

Long-standing abnormally dry conditions from April 2023 through December 2023 allowed severe (D2) and extreme (D3) drought to persist into January 2024. From initial severe drought (D2) issuance in June 2023 through December 2023, 10 to 20 of total rainfall was 6 to 14 below normal in ongoing drought affected counties. Multiple storms affected counties in far southwest to central Wisconsin through January, resulting in monthly precipitation totals up to 2 above normal in spots. Monthly snowfall totals near 20 with liquid totals of 2 resulted in the removal of extreme (D3) drought and a slight reduction of the severe (D2) drought area. Besides one week of well below normal temperatures, overall monthly temperatures were well above normal, including multiple days of 10 degrees or more above normal. These warm conditions quickly melted the snowpack and perpetuated ongoing soil moisture concerns.