This Midwest DEWS Strategic Plan builds upon existing stakeholder networks and activities to improve drought early warning capacity and long-term resilience in the Midwest. The Plan outlines priority tasks and activities for the implementation of the Midwest DEWS, including a list of partners, outcomes, and key milestone dates. The Plan is a “living document” to which additional actions and partners may be added as needed. While the Plan development is an interagency effort, NIDIS oversaw the development of the Plan and is working with regional stakeholders to manage the content.

Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook for the Midwest Region for December 2017 – February 2018.  Dated March 2018.  

Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook for the Great Lakes Region for December 2017 – February 2018.  Dated March 2018. 

During late 2016, the National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS), the National Drought Mitigation Center (NDMC), the Midwestern Regional Climate Center (MRCC), and other regional partners convened four stakeholder meetings in the Midwest Drought Early Warning System (DEWS).

Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook for the Great Lakes Region for September – November 2017.  Dated December 2017.

Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook for the Midwest Region for September – November 2017.  Dated December 2017. 

Defines La Niña; gives outlook for winter temperatures and precipitation; possible effects of La Niña on the Great Lakes region, including agriculture, the economy, water levels and lake ice. 

Discussion of La Niña in winter; outlook for precipitation and temperatures; impacts on agriculture, ecosystems/rivers, and the economy; how past La Niñas have unfolded. 

NOAA’s Regional Climate Services Program created these Outlooks to inform the public about climate impacts within their respective regions. Each regional report contains easy-to-understand language, and anyone can access them through the Drought Portal at https://www.drought.gov/drought/resources/reports. 

Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook for the Midwest Region for June – August 2017.  Dated September 2017.  

After a drought-free May, areas of moderate drought were introduced in Minnesota, Iowa, and Missouri on the U.S. Drought Monitor in June. Drought continued to intensify across Iowa and to a lesser extent eastern Missouri and west-central Illinois during the summer. Ames, Iowa experienced its driest June–July on record.