The severe drought that developed across western Wisconsin in early September, shrunk in size during the first week in October. 5 and 5 inches of rain fell across the region, which allowed the drought to be downgraded to moderate across all of Adams, La Crosse and Vernon Counties.
Every event with a place to put it; 9 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
The episode as NWS ARX wrote it up.
The severe drought that developed across western Wisconsin in early September, shrunk in size during the first week in October. Between 1.5 and 5 inches of rain fell across the region, which allowed the drought to be downgraded to moderate across all of Adams, La Crosse and Vernon Counties. During the second week of October, another half to one inch of rain fell, which allowed the drought to be downgraded even more. The severe drought continued in parts of Buffalo, Jackson, Juneau, Monroe and Trempealeau Counties, but was smaller in areal coverage. Non-irrigated corn fields across Adams, Juneau and Monroe Counties had plants that ranged from 2 to 5 feet tall and had 0 to 3 ears on each plant. Some soybean fields in the same counties had plants half their normal height.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
9 drought. Local standard time, as filed.
The severe drought across Adams County was downgraded to moderate after 2 inches of rain fell during the first week of October.
The severe drought area across Buffalo County shrunk in size after 1 to 3 inches of rain fell during the first week of October. Another half to one inch of rain fell during the second week of October which confined the severe drought area to the northern half of the county.
The severe drought across the southwest half of Clark County was downgraded to moderate by the middle of October. Three to five inches of rain fell across the area during the first week of October with another half to one inch of rain in the second week of the month.
The severe drought area across Jackson County shrunk in size after 1 to 4 inches of rain fell during the first week of October. Another half to one inch of rain fell during the second week of October which confined the severe drought area to the northwest and southeast corners of the county.
The severe drought area across Juneau County shrunk in size after 1 to 2 inches of rain fell during the first week of October. Another half to one inch of rain fell during the second week of October which confined the severe drought area to the central portion of the county.
The severe drought across La Crosse County was downgraded to moderate after 2 to 5 inches of rain fell during the first week of October.
The severe drought area across Monroe County shrunk in size after 1 to 3 inches of rain fell during the first week of October. Another half to one inch of rain fell during the second week of October which confined the severe drought area to the eastern three-quarters of the county.
The severe drought area across Tempealeau County shrunk in size after 2 to 5 inches of rain fell during the first week of October. Another half to one inch of rain fell during the second week of October which confined the severe drought area to the northern half of the county.
The severe drought across Vernon County was downgraded to moderate after 1 to 3 inches of rain fell during the first week of October.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Wisconsin in 2013Every state in 2013This day in weather historyWarnings in Wisconsin, October 2013
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 476039, 476041, 476042, 476046, 476047, 476048, 476049, 476087, 476089.