Northeast Illinois and Northwest Indiana emergency management and stormwater partners:
Here is a brief update on the hydrologic situation across the area. Drought conditions appear to be rapidly forming in some areas due to continued dry weather, clear skies, and sunshine. Soil moisture and river levels are trending below average at many locations across the area. Some reports of drought impacts are starting to be received, such as cracking soil, browning grass, and reduced water levels in ponds and small streams. Evapotranspiration is at its highest during summer, so continued dry weather could cause drought conditions to worsen rapidly. As such, the Drought Monitor now indicates Abnormally Dry (D0) conditions across portions of northeast Illinois and northwest Indiana and Moderate Drought (D1) conditions across a portion of northeast Illinois. Forecast dry weather could cause these areas of drought to expand rapidly in the coming weeks.
Please share with us any information you have on local drought impacts. Impacts such as water use restrictions, burn bans, boating/shipping problems, and issues with water supply intakes are all important for our situational awareness and we can share this information with the state climatologists who help create the United States Drought Monitor.
At this time, we have no additional drought briefings or products scheduled. This may change if conditions worsen.
-NWS Chicago