Is Chippewa County in a drought?
D1 Moderate drought
Yes. 40.1% of Chippewa County is in drought on the Drought Monitor map of Sep 22, 2026, the worst of it moderate drought (D1). That is unchanged from a week earlier. It has been in drought since the week of Sep 8, 2026.
Map valid Sep 22, 2026, released Thursday, Sep 24, 2026. The next map is due Thursday, Oct 1, 2026. Statewide, 14.9% of Michigan is in drought.
This week’s map
The Drought Monitor for Michigan, valid Sep 22, 2026. County lines are drawn in; the categories are the same as the national map.

- D0 Abnormally dry
- D1 Moderate drought
- D2 Severe drought
- D3 Extreme drought
- D4 Exceptional drought
Open the live map with the Drought Monitor
Map courtesy of the US Drought Monitor, NDMC-UNL, with USDA and NOAA. Original at droughtmonitor.unl.edu
This week's map, by category
Percent of Chippewa County in each category or worse, the Drought Monitor's own way of counting. In exactly one category this week: D0 59.9%, D1 40.1%, D2 0%, D3 0%, D4 0%; none 0%.
| Category | This weekSep 22 | Last weekSep 15 | 3 months agoJun 23 | A year agoSep 23 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| D0 to D4 Abnormally dry or worse | 100% | 100% | 0% | 0% |
| D1 to D4 Moderate or worse | 40.1% | 40.1% | 0% | 0% |
| D2 to D4 Severe or worse | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| D3 to D4 Extreme or worse | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| D4 Exceptional drought | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| None | 0% | 0% | 100% | 100% |
The past year
Percent of Chippewa County in each category, week by week. Each color includes the worse categories drawn over it.
- D0 Abnormally dry
- D1 Moderate drought
- D2 Severe drought
- D3 Extreme drought
- D4 Exceptional drought
Every week in the chart
| Map | D0+ | D1+ | D2+ | D3+ | D4+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 22, 2026 | 100% | 40.1% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Sep 15, 2026 | 100% | 40.1% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Sep 8, 2026 | 100% | 40.1% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Sep 1, 2026 | 100% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Aug 25, 2026 | 100% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Aug 18, 2026 | 100% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Aug 11, 2026 | 60.1% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Aug 4, 2026 | 60.1% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Jul 28, 2026 | 60.1% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Jul 21, 2026 | 60.1% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Jul 14, 2026 | 60.1% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Jul 7, 2026 | 14.3% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Jun 30, 2026 | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Jun 23, 2026 | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Jun 16, 2026 | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Jun 9, 2026 | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Jun 2, 2026 | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| May 26, 2026 | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| May 19, 2026 | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| May 12, 2026 | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| May 5, 2026 | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Apr 28, 2026 | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Apr 21, 2026 | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Apr 14, 2026 | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Apr 7, 2026 | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Mar 31, 2026 | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Mar 24, 2026 | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Mar 17, 2026 | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Mar 10, 2026 | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Mar 3, 2026 | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Feb 24, 2026 | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Feb 17, 2026 | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Feb 10, 2026 | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Feb 3, 2026 | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Jan 27, 2026 | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Jan 20, 2026 | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Jan 13, 2026 | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Jan 6, 2026 | 10.5% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Dec 30, 2025 | 10.5% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Dec 23, 2025 | 10.5% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Dec 16, 2025 | 10.5% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Dec 9, 2025 | 10.5% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Dec 2, 2025 | 10.5% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Nov 25, 2025 | 10.5% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Nov 18, 2025 | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Nov 11, 2025 | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Nov 4, 2025 | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Oct 28, 2025 | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Oct 21, 2025 | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Oct 14, 2025 | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Oct 7, 2025 | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Sep 30, 2025 | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Sep 23, 2025 | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Since 2000
Every weekly map of Chippewa County since January 2000.
- D0 Abnormally dry
- D1 Moderate drought
- D2 Severe drought
- D3 Extreme drought
- D4 Exceptional drought
Year by year
| Year | Worst category | Most in drought | Week of | Weeks with drought |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | D1 Moderate drought | 40.1% | Sep 8 | 3 of 38 |
| 2025 | D0 Abnormally dry | 0% | 0 of 52 | |
| 2024 | D2 Severe drought | 100% | Oct 8 | 29 of 53 |
| 2023 | D0 Abnormally dry | 0% | 0 of 52 | |
| 2022 | D1 Moderate drought | 15.4% | Jan 4 | 8 of 52 |
| 2021 | D1 Moderate drought | 100% | Apr 20 | 37 of 52 |
| 2020 | None | 0% | 0 of 52 | |
| 2019 | D1 Moderate drought | 50.2% | Sep 3 | 3 of 53 |
| 2018 | D0 Abnormally dry | 0% | 0 of 52 | |
| 2017 | None | 0% | 0 of 52 | |
| 2016 | D0 Abnormally dry | 0% | 0 of 52 | |
| 2015 | D0 Abnormally dry | 0% | 0 of 52 | |
| 2014 | None | 0% | 0 of 52 | |
| 2013 | None | 0% | 0 of 53 | |
| 2012 | D1 Moderate drought | 100% | May 29 | 1 of 52 |
| 2011 | D1 Moderate drought | 100% | Mar 29 | 5 of 52 |
| 2010 | D2 Severe drought | 100% | Jun 1 | 17 of 52 |
| 2009 | D0 Abnormally dry | 0% | 0 of 52 | |
| 2008 | D0 Abnormally dry | 0% | 0 of 53 | |
| 2007 | D2 Severe drought | 100% | Aug 14 | 15 of 52 |
| 2006 | D1 Moderate drought | 33.5% | May 9 | 1 of 52 |
| 2005 | D2 Severe drought | 100% | Aug 9 | 21 of 52 |
| 2004 | D0 Abnormally dry | 0% | 0 of 52 | |
| 2003 | D1 Moderate drought | 100% | Mar 18 | 5 of 52 |
| 2002 | D1 Moderate drought | 7% | Oct 1 | 1 of 53 |
| 2001 | D2 Severe drought | 68.1% | Aug 14 | 4 of 52 |
| 2000 | D1 Moderate drought | 100% | Aug 22 | 14 of 52 |
Drought history since 2000
Some part of Chippewa County was in drought on 12% of the weekly maps since Jan 4, 2000.
- Weeks with some drought
- 164 of 1,395 (12%)
- Worst category reached
- D2 Severe drought, last the week of Oct 29, 2024
- Most widespread
- 100% in drought, week of Nov 19, 2024
- Longest spell
- 45 weeks, Apr 20, 2021 to Feb 22, 2022
- Current spell
- 3 weeks, since Sep 8, 2026
Outlook
The Climate Prediction Center's drought outlooks at the center of Chippewa County: whether drought is expected to develop, persist, improve or end.
- Monthly outlook, Sep 2026
- No drought expected
- Seasonal outlook, through December 31 (issued Sep 17)
- Drought persists
The monthly outlook is issued on the last day of each month, the seasonal one on the third Thursday. CPC's discussion.
What drought has meant in Michigan
The National Drought Mitigation Center's examples of impacts observed in Michigan at each level of drought, starting with this week's worst here.
D1 Moderate drought This week
- Most crops and vegetation are stressed; farmed Christmas trees are stressed
- Well levels decline
D0 Abnormally dry
- Grass fires increase
- Lawns are brown; landscape and gardens are watered more frequently
D2 Severe drought
- Corn and soybean yields are low
- Mature trees are stressed
- Streamflow is extremely low, potentially too low to irrigate
Drawn from the Drought Impact Reporter and local observers.
Burn bans and water restrictions
The Drought Monitor does not issue burn bans or water restrictions. Chippewa County's officials, the state forestry or fire agency, and local water utilities set them, often once drought reaches D2 or dry fuels raise the fire danger. Check the county's emergency management office or fire marshal for a ban in force, and the alerts page for red flag warnings and fire weather watches.
This week in the Midwest
The Drought Monitor authors' narrative for the map of Sep 22, 2026, released Sep 24, 2026.
Southern Missouri was generally hot and dry this past week, with drought conditions deteriorating over much of the region. However, northern Missouri was wet leading to improvement in drought conditions. Southern Minnesota, eastern Iowa, southern Wisconsin, and northern Minnesota received significant precipitation, with over 8 inches falling in northeast Grant County, Wisconsin. The dry categories were thus improved in these areas. Northern Wisconsin, on the other hand, was dry with localized deterioration and the introduction of a small area of exceptional drought.
Looking ahead
The next five days are forecast to be wet along the northeastern coast from a nor’easter. The northwest is also predicted to receive needed precipitation. Remnants of a tropical system will provide significant moisture into the Four Corners states and the western Great Plains with heavy rainfall in the forecast. Parts of the northern Great Plains are also forecast to receive welcome precipitation. Areas with little rain in the forecast over the next five days are much of Texas and Louisiana, around the Great Lakes, and California and Nevada. The south and southwest should continue to have above normal temperatures, with cooler temperatures in the northeast and the northwest.
The 6- to 10-day outlook (September 29 to October 3) favors above normal temperatures over the southern half of the continental U.S. as well as the northeast. Hawaii is also likely to have above normal temperatures. The Great Basin area could have below normal rainfall, while above normal is possible over much of the central U.S. Both Hawaii and eastern Alaska are also favored to have above normal precipitation during this period.
Written by Lindsay Johnson, National Drought Mitigation Center; David Mocko, SSAI, NASA/GSFC. The national narrative.
What this means
The five categories the Drought Monitor draws, and how the map is made.
- D0 Abnormally dry
- Going into or coming out of drought.
- D1 Moderate drought
- Some damage to crops and pastures; water shortages developing.
- D2 Severe drought
- Crop or pasture losses likely; water restrictions imposed.
- D3 Extreme drought
- Major crop and pasture losses; widespread water shortages.
- D4 Exceptional drought
- Exceptional and widespread losses; water emergencies.
The US Drought Monitor is drawn every week by authors at the National Drought Mitigation Center, USDA and NOAA, who weigh rainfall, soil moisture, streamflow, groundwater, vegetation health and reports from local observers. Each map shows conditions through Tuesday morning and is released on Thursday. It shows where drought is and how bad it is; it does not forecast it. CPC's outlooks do that.
Nearby
The counties bordering Chippewa County, with the worst category on this week's map.
Sources
Statistics and narrative from the US Drought Monitor, courtesy of the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, with USDA and NOAA. Outlooks from the NOAA Climate Prediction Center. Impacts from NDMC's State Impacts tool.