DES MOINES – Iowa had a wetter-than-average October, contributing to ongoing recovery across the state, according to the latest Water Summary Update.
According to Iowa’s Drought Plan, all five drought regions in Iowa currently have a normal drought designation. The U.S. Drought Monitor, released on November 12, confirms that the entire state is now completely free from any level of dryness or drought for the first time since August 26, 2025. This change follows the removal of small pockets of moderate drought and abnormal dryness in northwestern Iowa during October.
At the end of October, Iowa’s statewide precipitation totaled 2.88 inches, or 0.19 inches above normal, ranking as the 59th wettest October on record. A broad band of above-normal rainfall stretched across the state centered over central Iowa, while only small pockets reported deficits of one to two inches. Statewide temperatures averaged 59.2 degrees, or 8.2 degrees above normal, tying 1900 as the fourth warmest October in 154 years of statewide records.
October streamflow levels across Iowa rivers were predominantly above normal, with the vast majority of monitoring stations reporting normal to well-above-normal conditions. Meanwhile, soil moisture saturation across the state maintained a pattern similar to the previous month.
The National Weather Service’s Climate Prediction Center’s November monthly outlook indicates increased chances for both above-normal precipitation and warmer-than-normal temperatures across Iowa. Looking further ahead, the Seasonal Drought Outlook valid through January 31, 2027, projects that Iowa will remain entirely drought-free, with warmer-than-average temperatures favored statewide and no clear signal for seasonal precipitation.
“Above-normal precipitation throughout October eliminated the state's remaining dry areas, bringing Iowa to completely designation-free conditions for the first time since August 2025. All five state drought regions remain in a normal status, and seasonal outlooks project these drought-free conditions will persist through January,” said Jessica Reese McIntyre, DNR Environmental Specialist.
For a thorough review of Iowa’s water resource trends, visit
www.iowadnr.gov/watersummaryupdate.
The report is prepared by technical staff from Iowa DNR, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, IIHR—Hydroscience and Engineering, and the U.S. Geological Survey, in collaboration with Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Department.