Wisconsin drought

Is Grant County in a drought?

No drought

No. Grant County has no drought and no abnormally dry areas on the Drought Monitor map of Sep 22, 2026. It was last in drought the week of Mar 10, 2026.

Map valid Sep 22, 2026, released Thursday, Sep 24, 2026. The next map is due Thursday, Oct 1, 2026. Statewide, 51.4% of Wisconsin is in drought.

Grant County forecastWeather alertsLive radar here

This week’s map

The Drought Monitor for Wisconsin, valid Sep 22, 2026. County lines are drawn in; the categories are the same as the national map.

US Drought Monitor map of Wisconsin for Sep 22, 2026, shaded D0 abnormally dry through D4 exceptional drought
  • 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 Grant County in each category or worse, the Drought Monitor's own way of counting. In exactly one category this week: D0 0%, D1 0%, D2 0%, D3 0%, D4 0%; none 100%.

CategoryThis weekSep 22Last weekSep 153 months agoJun 23A year agoSep 23
D0 to D4 Abnormally dry or worse0%54.6%0%4.7%
D1 to D4 Moderate or worse0%0%0%0%
D2 to D4 Severe or worse0%0%0%0%
D3 to D4 Extreme or worse0%0%0%0%
D4 Exceptional drought0%0%0%0%
None100%45.4%100%95.3%

The past year

Percent of Grant County in each category, week by week. Each color includes the worse categories drawn over it.

Percent of Grant County in drought categories from Sep 23, 2025 to Sep 22, 2026. On the latest map, 0% is in drought (D1 or worse) and 0% is abnormally dry or worse.0%25%50%75%100%OctNovDec2026FebMarAprMayJunJulAugSep
  • D0 Abnormally dry
  • D1 Moderate drought
  • D2 Severe drought
  • D3 Extreme drought
  • D4 Exceptional drought
Every week in the chart
MapD0+D1+D2+D3+D4+
Sep 22, 20260%0%0%0%0%
Sep 15, 202654.6%0%0%0%0%
Sep 8, 202654.6%0%0%0%0%
Sep 1, 202654.6%0%0%0%0%
Aug 25, 20266.2%0%0%0%0%
Aug 18, 20266.3%0%0%0%0%
Aug 11, 20266.3%0%0%0%0%
Aug 4, 20266.3%0%0%0%0%
Jul 28, 202627.6%0%0%0%0%
Jul 21, 20260%0%0%0%0%
Jul 14, 20260%0%0%0%0%
Jul 7, 20260%0%0%0%0%
Jun 30, 20260%0%0%0%0%
Jun 23, 20260%0%0%0%0%
Jun 16, 20261.4%0%0%0%0%
Jun 9, 20261.4%0%0%0%0%
Jun 2, 202631.1%0%0%0%0%
May 26, 20260%0%0%0%0%
May 19, 20260%0%0%0%0%
May 12, 20260%0%0%0%0%
May 5, 20260%0%0%0%0%
Apr 28, 20260%0%0%0%0%
Apr 21, 20260%0%0%0%0%
Apr 14, 20260%0%0%0%0%
Apr 7, 20260%0%0%0%0%
Mar 31, 20267.7%0%0%0%0%
Mar 24, 20267.7%0%0%0%0%
Mar 17, 20267.7%0%0%0%0%
Mar 10, 202648.4%7.7%0%0%0%
Mar 3, 2026100%32.5%0%0%0%
Feb 24, 2026100%32.5%0%0%0%
Feb 17, 2026100%0%0%0%0%
Feb 10, 2026100%0%0%0%0%
Feb 3, 2026100%0%0%0%0%
Jan 27, 2026100%0%0%0%0%
Jan 20, 2026100%0%0%0%0%
Jan 13, 2026100%0%0%0%0%
Jan 6, 2026100%0%0%0%0%
Dec 30, 2025100%17.2%0%0%0%
Dec 23, 2025100%17.2%0%0%0%
Dec 16, 2025100%17.2%0%0%0%
Dec 9, 2025100%17.2%0%0%0%
Dec 2, 2025100%17.2%0%0%0%
Nov 25, 2025100%17.2%0%0%0%
Nov 18, 2025100%17.2%0%0%0%
Nov 11, 2025100%17.2%0%0%0%
Nov 4, 202584.1%17.1%0%0%0%
Oct 28, 202584.7%17.1%0%0%0%
Oct 21, 202565.3%0%0%0%0%
Oct 14, 202565.3%0%0%0%0%
Oct 7, 202565.3%0%0%0%0%
Sep 30, 202565.3%0%0%0%0%
Sep 23, 20254.7%0%0%0%0%

Since 2000

Every weekly map of Grant County since January 2000.

Percent of Grant County in drought categories from Jan 4, 2000 to Sep 22, 2026. On the latest map, 0% is in drought (D1 or worse) and 0% is abnormally dry or worse.0%25%50%75%100%200420082012201620202024
  • D0 Abnormally dry
  • D1 Moderate drought
  • D2 Severe drought
  • D3 Extreme drought
  • D4 Exceptional drought
Year by year
YearWorst categoryMost in droughtWeek ofWeeks with drought
2026D1 Moderate drought32.5%Feb 243 of 38
2025D1 Moderate drought70.5%Apr 833 of 52
2024D3 Extreme drought100%Oct 1530 of 53
2023D4 Exceptional drought100%Jun 1330 of 52
2022D1 Moderate drought100%Feb 1521 of 52
2021D2 Severe drought100%Jun 1536 of 52
2020D0 Abnormally dry0%0 of 52
2019None0%0 of 53
2018D0 Abnormally dry0%0 of 52
2017D1 Moderate drought26.8%Sep 193 of 52
2016D0 Abnormally dry0%0 of 52
2015D1 Moderate drought86.1%Aug 1112 of 52
2014D0 Abnormally dry0%0 of 52
2013D2 Severe drought100%Jan 117 of 53
2012D3 Extreme drought100%Jul 1027 of 52
2011D0 Abnormally dry0%0 of 52
2010None0%0 of 52
2009D1 Moderate drought7.5%Sep 295 of 52
2008D1 Moderate drought0.3%Nov 111 of 53
2007D0 Abnormally dry0%0 of 52
2006D2 Severe drought55.5%Jan 1713 of 52
2005D2 Severe drought100%Jul 1226 of 52
2004D1 Moderate drought19.6%Jan 273 of 52
2003D2 Severe drought100%Jan 1439 of 52
2002D0 Abnormally dry0%0 of 53
2001D0 Abnormally dry0%0 of 52
2000D1 Moderate drought100%Mar 79 of 52

Drought history since 2000

Some part of Grant County was in drought on 22% of the weekly maps since Jan 4, 2000, and exceptional drought (D4) last reached the county the week of Sep 19, 2023.

Weeks with some drought
308 of 1,395 (22%)
Worst category reached
D4 Exceptional drought, last the week of Sep 19, 2023
Most widespread
100% in drought, week of Oct 29, 2024
Longest spell
52 weeks, Apr 27, 2021 to Apr 19, 2022
Last in drought
Week of Mar 10, 2026

Outlook

The Climate Prediction Center's drought outlooks at the center of Grant 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)
No drought expected

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 Wisconsin

The National Drought Mitigation Center's examples of impacts observed in Wisconsin at each level of drought.

D0 Abnormally dry

  • Burn bans are implemented
  • Lakes and rivers are lower than normal
  • Lawns are brown; landscape and gardens require more frequent watering
  • Pasture and row crops are stressed

D1 Moderate drought

  • Hay prices are high; people are selling horses

D2 Severe drought

  • Crop yields are down; pasture growth is sparse; livestock are removed from grazing
  • Water use is high; groundwater pumping increases

D3 Extreme drought

  • Agriculture economic losses are reported statewide
  • Fairs have fewer entries
  • Producers feed cattle supplemental hay
  • Streamflow is reduced; water temperatures are warm; oxygen content is low; northern pike fish kill is reported

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. Grant 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 Grant 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.