drought monitor

Drought Conditions Remain in Western Iowa Despite Extra Snowfall in January

nwwelle Farming, Soil, Uncategorized , ,

Graphic of Iowa map showing drought conditions
Via U.S. Drought Monitor

Nicole Welle | February 11, 2021

Precipitation levels were slightly higher than usual last month, but the added snowfall failed to improve drought conditions in western Iowa.

2020 was an extremely dry year for the state of Iowa, and many parts of the state have not yet recovered. In January, precipitation was 0.35 inches above average for that time of the year. However, it also averaged 4 degrees warmer than usual, and the Iowa DNR reported that at least half of the state is currently experiencing abnormally dry or drought conditions. At the end of the month, a small section of northwest Iowa was in extreme drought, according to an Iowa Capital Dispatch article.

DNR officials warned that the shallow soils underneath the snowfall in western Iowa are dry enough to potentially push drought conditions into the spring. This could be problematic for farmers as they go into planting season. Even if precipitation levels continue to meet or exceed averages over the next few months, snowmelt likely won’t be able to improve soil conditions very quickly since groundwater is already frozen in place.

The U.S. drought monitor reported that 52% of the state is experiencing abnormally dry conditions, but it is still a significant improvement from three months ago when it was at 64%. State and Federal officials will host a virtual public meeting to discuss the conditions in western Iowa further on January 13.

August rainfall benefits some parts of Iowa

jennakcladd Climate, Farming, Flooding, Water quality, Weather , , , , , , ,

Screen Shot 2017-08-25 at 11.42.30 AM
August rainfall saved much of Iowa from severe drought conditions, but parts of south central are still experiencing extreme dryness. (Iowa DNR)

Jenna Ladd| August 25, 2017

Rainfall in the last part of August helped to lift many parts of Iowa out of drought conditions, but some parts of the state are still experiencing extreme drought, according to the latest Water Summary Update.

The Water Summary Update is a succinct monthly report of Iowa’s water resources and those events that affect them prepared by the technical staff at Iowa DNR, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, IIHR—Hydroscience and Engineering, and the U.S. Geological Survey, in partnership with Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Department.

The latest summary revealed that while August started off very dry, high rain totals increased groundwater levels and streamflow in many parts of the state. The total area of the state classified as experiencing drought or dryness decreased from over 70 percent at the beginning of the month to 55 percent this week. In contrast, south central Iowa is still experiencing D2 and D3 drought conditions. Clarke county and Wapello county are seeing the most extreme dryness.

Researchers point out that August temperatures this year have been about three to four degrees cooler than normal, on average. Lower temperatures slow down evaporation rates and provide a protective factor for crops in drought-stricken areas.

To follow Iowa DNR’s regular water summary update, visit their website here.

Extreme drought spreads into Eastern Iowa

Josh Quinnett Climate, Farming, Land, News , , , ,

Graphic courtesy of the National Drought Mitigation Center.

A map released Tuesday by the U.S. Drought Monitor shows that extreme drought conditions have spread into Eastern Iowa, while the remainder of the state remains categorized as severe drought.

This latest map doesn’t include Wednesday’s overnight rainfall which averaged roughly one half-inch, but meteorologist Harvey Freese said it wasn’t enough to lift the drought.

“Most of Iowa had received less than a tenth of an inch of normal rainfall during July,” he said. “The fact that it did rain is encouraging, because it indicates that more rain might be on the way.”

For more information, read the full article at the Des Moines Register.

All of Eastern Iowa covered by severe drought

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Graphic courtesy of the National Drought Mitigation Center.

A new drought monitor map released Thursday morning shows that 58 percent of Iowa – more than the entire eastern half of the state – is now covered by severe drought conditions.

Western Iowa has also been bumped to moderate drought status, up from its previous status of dry conditions.

Federal weather forecasters said Thursday that the unusually hot, dry weather will not let up any time soon.

“It’s really unpleasant,” said drought specialist Kelly Helm Smith at the National Drought Mitigation Center in Nebraska to the Associated Press. She said relief “is not on the radar that I’m aware of.”

For more information, read the full article at The Gazette.

Drought conditions continue to spread across Iowa

Josh Quinnett Climate, Land, News , , , , , ,

Graphic courtesy of the National Drought Mitigation Center.

An updated map by the U.S. drought monitor shows a significant expansion of drought conditions through eastern and northwest Iowa.

Rainfall totals in Iowa for the months of May and June were less than half of normal, and what little precipitation the state received has been baked from the soil by a heatwave generating temperatures of 100 degrees or more across the state.

Bryce Knorr of Farm Futures Magazine said this morning “triple digit heat will cover much of the heart of the Corn Belt again today, with only partial relief in sight. While temperatures will slowly cool from the northwest, only limited chances for rain are in sign for key states over the next week.”

For more information, read the full article at the Des Moines Register.