2023 Precipitation: Wet Beginning to Drought
It was one extreme to the next, with a record wet start to the year then summer drought and near record dryness.
Very Wet to Very Dry
Reference Period is 1895-2022. Image Credit: UW State Climate Office using data from NCEI Climate at at Glace.
Precipitation was average to above average for each the first four months of the year for much of the state. Much of that was in the form of snow, resulting in a deep snowpack of 20 to 40 inches across the northern half of the state. February was especially wet statewide. Green Bay received 23.6 inches of snow for the month. Heavy rain impacted southeast Wisconsin. 2.06 inches fell in Milwaukee on February 27th, which was the city's wettest February day on record. Madison had its snowiest March day on record when 12.1 inches fell on the 25th. Heavy snow in mid April added to the seasonal totals in western and central Wisconsin where up to 20 inches fell. Statewide, the January to April time period was the wettest on record.
Then things changed. Northwest flow dominated the state, resulting in drier, Canadian air flowing into Wisconsin for much of the summer. Typically winds are out out of the west or southwest allowing for moisture from the south to impact Wisconsin. Many locations received less than 3 or even 2 inches of rain during May and June, while normal amounts are 8 inches. Statewide, May was the 4th driest on record and June was the 5th driest. July was close to average, then August was drier than normal. As a result, the 4 month period from May to August was the 4th driest statewide.
Accumulated precipitation for May and June 2023 across southwest and south-central Wisconsin from observers with the Community, Rain, Hail and Snow Network. Image Credit: cocorahs.org
The Drought
The dry spell started in mid April in southern Wisconsin and early May across northern Wisconsin. Drought developed in early June in southern Wisconsin and mid June in northern Wisconsin. It intensified during the summer. Conditions improved somewhat during the late the fall, but many areas of the state were still in drought at the end of the year.
US Drought Monitor from June to November, Image Credit: Droughtmonitor.unl.edu
What is the Drought Monitor
The Drought Monitor is a map that is released weekly showing where there is drought and how bad it is. It uses six classifications: normal conditions, abnormally dry (D0), showing areas that may be going into or are coming out of drought, and four levels of drought: moderate (D1), severe (D2), extreme (D3) and exceptional (D4). There are many indicators to monitor drought such as precipitation deficits, soil moisture conditions, streamflow values, vegetative health, etc.
Putting It Into Context
The drought of 2023 rivaled the drought of 2012, which is the last time there was such an expansive of an area of D3 drought. 24% of the state was classified as D3/D4 drought in 2023 compared to 20% of the state in 2012. The duration of the extreme drought in 2023 was longer than 2012, but the drought of 2012 had more hotter days. Aug 8, 2023 was the first time there was D4, Exceptional Drought, in Wisconsin since the Drought Monitor started in 2000.
Impacts
Low water levels on rivers and lakes impacted recreation and businesses. Some small creeks dried up completely. Thousands of mussels were stranded and dying on dry land along the Wisconsin River due to low water levels. They play a large role in keeping the river clean.
During August and September fire activity was higher than average, according to the DNR. Many of the fires were in areas experiencing extreme or exceptional drought.
Non irrigated crops had low yields affecting many farmers. Hay prices were high due to lower supply.
Drought and You
Is drought or wetness affecting you? Submit a Condition Monitoring Report, visible to the public and U.S. Drought Monitor authors. Click here to submit your report.
