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Iowa stream flows concerning heading in to winter

Iowa stream flows concerning heading in to winter

  • 10/31/2024 1:46:00 PM
  • View Count 3970
After record low precipitation in September and October, drought conditions have reappeared across much of Iowa, causing river and stream flows to drop to similar levels as in 2023.
Drought conditions continue during record streak

Drought conditions continue during record streak

  • 12/21/2023 2:10:00 PM
  • View Count 5980
DES MOINES - The current drought is the longest in Iowa since the 1950s, with abnormally dry and drought conditions extending into the 188th week in a row, according to the latest data available.
Drought conditions worsen – but recent rain will help

Drought conditions worsen – but recent rain will help

  • 9/21/2023 2:35:00 PM
  • View Count 4536
DES MOINES -- Drought conditions across eastern Iowa continue to worsen, according the latest Water Summary Update. The National Drought Mitigation Center’s Sept. 21 U.S. Drought Monitor (USDM) released this morning shows areas of Exceptional Drought (D4) for the first time since the fall of 2012. 
Water Summary Update: Drought conditions worsen in eastern Iowa

Water Summary Update: Drought conditions worsen in eastern Iowa

  • 9/7/2023 3:08:00 PM
  • View Count 3553
DES MOINES - August saw another below normal rainfall month in Iowa, with preliminary data showing that the state received 3.25 inches of rain, 0.88 inches below normal. This marks the sixth month in a row of less than normal rainfall.
Water Summary Update: July 2023 - Drought conditions intensify after another dry month

Water Summary Update: July 2023 - Drought conditions intensify after another dry month

  • 8/3/2023 2:54:00 PM
  • View Count 3574
DES MOINES - The month of July ended in dry conditions, with Iowa receiving 3.10 inches of rain, more than an inch below normal. This marks the fifth month in a row of less than normal rainfall. According to the Iowa Drought Plan, 4 of the 5 regions of the state are in “drought watch”. The US Drought Monitor shows that nearly all of Iowa faces some dryness or drought, with over half the state facing moderate drought conditions.
Drought watch in place with below normal rainfall in May

Drought watch in place with below normal rainfall in May

  • 6/8/2023 3:06:00 PM
  • View Count 3327
DES MOINES - The state of Iowa faced a dry May with only 2.54 inches of rainfall, which is just over half of its normal rainfall for the month. This lack of rainfall has led to deteriorating conditions in soil moisture and stream flows across the state. Southwest Iowa has been hit the hardest with less than two inches of rain, which is only 35 percent of expected May precipitation. As a result, Iowa's Drought Regions have been rated as "Drought Watch", indicating that at least three indicators in the ...
Water Summary Update: April 2023 - Another dry month

Water Summary Update: April 2023 - Another dry month

  • 5/4/2023 2:25:00 PM
  • View Count 2426
DES MOINES — Rainfall in April was just over two inches but 1.5 inches below normal for the month. This comes after a drier than normal March. As a result, streamflows are down across much of the state, and conditions are generally deteriorating in the eastern two-thirds of Iowa. While all of the Drought Regions of Iowa are rated as “normal, " downward trends are shown in the state's central, northeastern, and southeastern parts. The US Drought Monitor introduced a small area of moderate drought in so...
DNR releases Iowa Drought Plan

DNR releases Iowa Drought Plan

  • 3/9/2023 12:47:00 PM
  • View Count 3871
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources has finalized a drought plan for use by local, county, state agencies and governments in the event of droughts in the state.
Public meetings to address statewide drought plan

Public meetings to address statewide drought plan

  • 6/16/2022 11:19:00 AM
  • View Count 3644
DES MOINES – As part of an effort to develop a statewide drought preparedness plan, the Iowa DNR and partners will host a series of four public stakeholder meetings in July and a virtual meeting in August to gather ideas and input.
Water Summary Update: Drought conditions improve with March rainfall

Water Summary Update: Drought conditions improve with March rainfall

  • 4/7/2022 11:57:00 AM
  • View Count 1525
DES MOINES — Precipitation for March averaged 2.67 inches, almost a half inch above normal. This above-normal rainfall helped to improve drought conditions across many areas of the state, especially in the southern and eastern parts of Iowa, according to the latest Water Summary Update. 
Water Summary Update: 2022 starts with a dry and cold January

Water Summary Update: 2022 starts with a dry and cold January

  • 2/10/2022 4:37:00 PM
  • View Count 1876
DES MOINES — The new year has started colder and drier than normal, as Iowa ended January with an average of 0.68 inches of moisture, and an average temperature of 14.7 degrees, according to the latest Water Summary Update.
Water Summary Update: Some rain in June, but drought spreads

Water Summary Update: Some rain in June, but drought spreads

  • 7/8/2021 11:45:00 AM
  • View Count 1860
DES MOINES — The month of June saw 3.31 inches of rain in Iowa, almost two inches less than normal. The lower than normal rainfall, combined with warmer than normal temperatures, resulted in an expansion of drought conditions across the state.
Learn more on updated drought conditions

Learn more on updated drought conditions

  • 2/25/2021 11:15:00 AM
  • View Count 1943
DES MOINES—From nearly 20 below to record snow falls to 50-degree-February days, one thing is certain about Iowa’s weather: it’s unpredictable.
Water Summary Update: drought remains following a dry 2020

Water Summary Update: drought remains following a dry 2020

  • 1/14/2021 1:39:00 PM
  • View Count 2035
DES MOINES — Drought and abnormally dry conditions remain across Iowa with drought boundaries remaining status quo, following a 2020 that ranked as the 36th driest year on record in Iowa, according to the latest Water Summary Update.
Drought conditions update

Drought conditions update

  • 12/31/2020 11:15:00 AM
  • View Count 2144
DES MOINES—About half of Iowa’s population is currently challenged with abnormally dry or drought conditions. To learn more about the potential for drought next year, plan to attend a teleconference from 10 a.m. to noon on Jan. 13.
Water Summary Update: May rainfall about normal for Iowa

Water Summary Update: May rainfall about normal for Iowa

  • 6/4/2020 12:43:00 PM
  • View Count 2494
DES MOINES — While rainfall was about normal in May for the state, on average, a wide band across the central part of the state was drier than normal, while the north, south, and eastern edges were wetter, according to the latest Water Summary Update.
Water Summary Update: April cooler, drier than normal

Water Summary Update: April cooler, drier than normal

  • 5/14/2020 1:24:00 PM
  • View Count 2225
DES MOINES — With average rainfall about 2 inches below normal and temperatures about 2 degrees below normal, April was cooler and drier than usual, according to the latest Water Summary Update. 
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