Rains during the month of October allowed drought conditions to improve across portions of western Wisconsin. Rainfall for the month ranged from 2 to 5 inches across the area allowing for a one to two category improvement in the drought classification. Enough rain was received across Adams, Juneau, Richland and Vernon Counties for them to be removed from the severe drought classification. Before the beneficial rains hit, conditions deteriorated enough for Buffalo and Trempealeau Counties to slip into the severe drought category.

Drought in MONROE, WISCONSIN
From 01-OCT-12 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Rainfall amounts across Monroe County averaged 3 to 4 inches during October. This was enough rain for some improvement in the drought to occur. Early in the month, the extreme drought had expanded to cover the northern half of the county. However, the beneficial rains allowed this to improve and by the end of the month, only the northwest quarter of the county remained in a severe drought. The improvements over the remainder of the county allowed those areas to be removed from the severe drought classification. River flows continue to be less than 20 percent of normal along with deeper than normal ground water levels.

Drought in VERNON, WISCONSIN
From 01-OCT-12 00:00:00 to 16-OCT-12 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Rainfall amounts across Vernon County averaged 3 to 4 inches during October. This was enough rainfall to improve the soil moisture conditions and end the severe drought classification.

Drought in JUNEAU, WISCONSIN
From 01-OCT-12 00:00:00 to 30-OCT-12 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Rainfall amounts across Juneau County averaged 4 to 5 inches during October. This was enough rainfall to improve the soil moisture conditions and end the extreme to severe drought classification.

Drought in RICHLAND, WISCONSIN
From 01-OCT-12 00:00:00 to 16-OCT-12 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Rainfall amounts across Richland County averaged 4 inches during October. This was enough rainfall to improve the soil moisture conditions and end the severe drought classification.

Drought in TREMPEALEAU, WISCONSIN
From 01-OCT-12 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Severe drought conditions developed across Tempealeau County because of persistent lack of precipitation. Affects of the drought include river flows less than 20 percent of normal on the Mississippi River and deeper than normal ground water levels. Beans harvested in the southern part of the county showed yields up to 50 bushels an acre. Meanwhile, corn yields were down 20 to 30 bushels an acre from the 2011 harvest.

Drought in LA CROSSE, WISCONSIN
From 01-OCT-12 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Rainfall amounts across La Crosse County averaged 3 to 4 inches during October. This was enough rain for some improvement in the drought to occur. By the end of the month, only the northeast corner of the county remained in a severe drought. Improvements over the remainder of the county removed those areas from the severe drought. River flows continue to be less than 20 percent of normal on the Mississippi River along with deeper than normal ground water levels. Crops harvested across the county showed a wide range in yields. Corn ranged from completely barren fields to between 150 and 200 bushels an acre. Soybeans ranged from 20 to 30 bushels an acre on the low end up to 40 to 50 bushels an acre.

Drought in ADAMS, WISCONSIN
From 01-OCT-12 00:00:00 to 30-OCT-12 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Rainfall amounts across Adams County averaged 4 to 5 inches during October. This was enough rainfall to improve the soil moisture conditions and end the severe drought classification.

Drought in BUFFALO, WISCONSIN
From 01-OCT-12 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Severe drought conditions developed across Buffalo County because of persistent lack of precipitation. Affects of the drought include river flows less than 20 percent of normal on the Mississippi River and deeper than normal ground water levels. Enough rain did fall during the first part of the month for county officials to lift the burning ban.

Drought in CLARK, WISCONSIN
From 01-OCT-12 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Rainfall amounts across Clark County averaged 3 to 5 inches during October. This was not enough rain for any change in the drought conditions to occur and all of the county remains in a severe drought. River flows continue to be less than 20 percent of normal along with deeper than normal ground water levels.

Drought in GRANT, WISCONSIN
From 01-OCT-12 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Rainfall amounts across Grant County averaged 3 inches during October. This was enough rain for some improvement in the drought to occur. By the end of the month,
the southern half of the county had improved from extreme to severe drought. Improvements over the northern half of the county removed that area from the severe drought. River flows continue to be less than 20 percent of normal on the Mississippi River along with deeper than normal ground water levels.

Drought in CRAWFORD, WISCONSIN
From 01-OCT-12 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Rainfall amounts across Crawford County averaged 3 to 4 inches during October. This was enough rain for some improvement in the drought to occur. By the end of the month, only the far southern portion of the county remained in a severe drought. Improvements over the remainder of the county removed those areas from the severe drought. River flows continue to be less than 20 percent of normal on the Mississippi River along with deeper than normal ground water levels.

Drought in JACKSON, WISCONSIN
From 01-OCT-12 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Rainfall amounts across Jackson County averaged 3 to 4 inches during October. This was enough rain for some improvement in the drought to occur. Early in the month, the extreme drought had expanded to cover much of the county. However, the beneficial rains allowed this to improve and the entire county was classified as being in a severe drought by the end of the month. River flows continue to be less than 20 percent of normal along with deeper than normal ground water levels.