Wisconsin drought

Is Kewaunee County in a drought?

D1 Moderate drought

Yes. 15.8% of Kewaunee County is in drought on the Drought Monitor map of Sep 15, 2026, the worst of it moderate drought (D1). The share in drought shrank from 16% a week earlier. It has been in drought since the week of Aug 11, 2026.

Map valid Sep 15, 2026, released Thursday, Sep 17, 2026. The next map is due Thursday, Sep 24, 2026. Statewide, 56.1% of Wisconsin is in drought.

Kewaunee County forecastWeather alertsLive radar here

This week’s map

The Drought Monitor for Wisconsin, valid Sep 15, 2026. County lines are drawn in; the categories are the same as the national map.

US Drought Monitor map of Wisconsin for Sep 15, 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 Kewaunee County in each category or worse, the Drought Monitor's own way of counting. In exactly one category this week: D0 84.2%, D1 15.8%, D2 0%, D3 0%, D4 0%; none 0%.

CategoryThis weekSep 15Last weekSep 83 months agoJun 16A year agoSep 16
D0 to D4 Abnormally dry or worse100%100%100%0%
D1 to D4 Moderate or worse15.8%16%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%
None0%0%0%100%

The past year

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

Percent of Kewaunee County in drought categories from Sep 16, 2025 to Sep 15, 2026. On the latest map, 15.8% is in drought (D1 or worse) and 100% 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 15, 2026100%15.8%0%0%0%
Sep 8, 2026100%16%0%0%0%
Sep 1, 2026100%16%0%0%0%
Aug 25, 2026100%16%0%0%0%
Aug 18, 2026100%16%0%0%0%
Aug 11, 2026100%16%0%0%0%
Aug 4, 2026100%0%0%0%0%
Jul 28, 2026100%0%0%0%0%
Jul 21, 2026100%0%0%0%0%
Jul 14, 2026100%0%0%0%0%
Jul 7, 2026100%0%0%0%0%
Jun 30, 2026100%0%0%0%0%
Jun 23, 2026100%0%0%0%0%
Jun 16, 2026100%0%0%0%0%
Jun 9, 202691.7%0%0%0%0%
Jun 2, 202691.7%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, 202698.3%0%0%0%0%
Mar 24, 202698.3%0%0%0%0%
Mar 17, 202698.3%0%0%0%0%
Mar 10, 2026100%98.3%0%0%0%
Mar 3, 2026100%98.3%0%0%0%
Feb 24, 2026100%98.3%0%0%0%
Feb 17, 2026100%99.8%0%0%0%
Feb 10, 2026100%99.8%0%0%0%
Feb 3, 2026100%99.8%0%0%0%
Jan 27, 2026100%99.8%0%0%0%
Jan 20, 2026100%99.8%0%0%0%
Jan 13, 2026100%100%0%0%0%
Jan 6, 2026100%100%0%0%0%
Dec 30, 2025100%100%0%0%0%
Dec 23, 2025100%100%0%0%0%
Dec 16, 2025100%100%0%0%0%
Dec 9, 2025100%100%0%0%0%
Dec 2, 2025100%100%0%0%0%
Nov 25, 2025100%100%0%0%0%
Nov 18, 2025100%100%0%0%0%
Nov 11, 2025100%100%0%0%0%
Nov 4, 2025100%100%0%0%0%
Oct 28, 2025100%0%0%0%0%
Oct 21, 2025100%0%0%0%0%
Oct 14, 2025100%0%0%0%0%
Oct 7, 2025100%0%0%0%0%
Sep 30, 202594.5%0%0%0%0%
Sep 23, 20250%0%0%0%0%
Sep 16, 20250%0%0%0%0%

Since 2000

Every weekly map of Kewaunee County since January 2000.

Percent of Kewaunee County in drought categories from Jan 4, 2000 to Sep 15, 2026. On the latest map, 15.8% is in drought (D1 or worse) and 100% 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 drought100%Jan 616 of 37
2025D1 Moderate drought100%Nov 49 of 52
2024D2 Severe drought100%Oct 821 of 53
2023D2 Severe drought100%Jun 2022 of 52
2022D1 Moderate drought100%Feb 87 of 52
2021D1 Moderate drought100%Jun 155 of 52
2020D0 Abnormally dry0%0 of 52
2019None0%0 of 53
2018D0 Abnormally dry0%0 of 52
2017D0 Abnormally dry0%0 of 52
2016D0 Abnormally dry0%0 of 52
2015D1 Moderate drought92.8%Mar 318 of 52
2014D0 Abnormally dry0%0 of 52
2013None0%0 of 53
2012D1 Moderate drought37.9%Oct 93 of 52
2011D0 Abnormally dry0%0 of 52
2010D0 Abnormally dry0%0 of 52
2009D1 Moderate drought100%Jul 2120 of 52
2008D1 Moderate drought26.5%Sep 2315 of 53
2007D1 Moderate drought100%Aug 712 of 52
2006D0 Abnormally dry0%0 of 52
2005D2 Severe drought100%Jul 524 of 52
2004D1 Moderate drought100%Oct 58 of 52
2003D1 Moderate drought100%Mar 118 of 52
2002D0 Abnormally dry0%0 of 53
2001D0 Abnormally dry0%0 of 52
2000D1 Moderate drought100%Apr 185 of 52

Drought history since 2000

Some part of Kewaunee County was in drought on 13% of the weekly maps since Jan 4, 2000.

Weeks with some drought
183 of 1,394 (13%)
Worst category reached
D2 Severe drought, last the week of Oct 29, 2024
Most widespread
100% in drought, week of Jan 13, 2026
Longest spell
24 weeks, Jun 28, 2005 to Dec 6, 2005
Current spell
6 weeks, since Aug 11, 2026

Outlook

The Climate Prediction Center's drought outlooks at the center of Kewaunee 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, starting with this week's worst here.

D1 Moderate drought This week

  • Hay prices are high; people are selling horses

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

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. Kewaunee 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 15, 2026, released Sep 17, 2026.

Significant rainfall was observed over western Kentucky as well as over central-to-north Missouri, leading in removal of abnormally dry conditions. Heavy rain also fell in northwestern Iowa, northern Minnesota, and a band across central Wisconsin, with drought improvement as a result in these locations. Meanwhile, a mostly rain-free week in northern Illinois and Indiana caused introduction of an abnormally dry area. Extreme drought conditions can be found in southern Missouri, northern Wisconsin, and along the borders of Minnesota with both Wisconsin and North Dakota.

Looking ahead

Over the next five days leading up to next Tuesday, above normal rainfall is forecast in south Florida as well as a large area in southern Wisconsin and Minnesota into eastern Iowa and northern Illinois. The latter area of forecasted rainfall continues to the east through central Michigan, the southern Great Lakes, Pennsylvania, New York, and much of central and southern New England. Other locations with rainfall in the forecast this week are in the Appalachian Mountains, the western Great Plains, and the Four Corners states. Unfortunately, most of Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama are forecast to receive little rainfall. Dry conditions are also forecast in California, Nevada, and Washington. Much above normal temperatures are forecast to continue this week in the central and southern U.S.

The 6- to 10-day outlook (September 22-26, 2026) favors above normal temperatures continuing over nearly all of the continental United States. Areas most likely to be above normal are again the south into the southeast, plus the far north. Hawaii is also likely to be above normal. For precipitation, the Eastern Seaboard is likely to have above normal rainfall as is the Southwest. The central U.S. into the upper Midwest is likely to have below normal rainfall. Hawaii and Alaska are both likely to have above normal rain 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 Kewaunee 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.