Water Summary Update: April cooler, drier than normal 5/14/2020 1:24:00 PM View Count 2064 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.
Water Summary Update: March sees above-average precipitation in Iowa 4/9/2020 1:34:00 PM View Count 2561 DES MOINES — Almost all stations across Iowa reported above average precipitation in March, with some locations reporting 2 to 2.5 inches above normal rainfall, according to the latest Water Summary Update.
Water Summary Update: Drier February improves stream levels across Iowa 3/5/2020 2:17:00 PM View Count 2109 DES MOINES — With a drier February, stream levels have improved across much of the state, according to the latest Water Summary Update.
Water Summary Update: January warmer with more rain and snow than usual 2/6/2020 12:06:00 PM View Count 2353 DES MOINES — Both statewide precipitation and temperatures were above average in January, according to the latest Water Summary Update.
Water Summary Update: Iowa received 6 more inches of rain than usual in 2019 1/9/2020 12:37:00 PM View Count 2514 DES MOINES — With 41.5 inches of rain falling across Iowa last year, 2019 is now the 12th wettest year on record in the state, according to the latest Water Summary Update.
Water Summary Update: Cooler, wetter autumn than usual in Iowa 12/12/2019 1:13:00 PM View Count 2399 DES MOINES — Autumn this year in Iowa has been cooler and wetter than normal, according to the latest Water Summary Update.
Water Summary Update: Last year had above-normal precipitation in Iowa 11/21/2019 1:31:00 PM View Count 2982 DES MOINES — In the last year, Iowa averaged 42.58 inches of precipitation, 7.31 inches above the statewide 30-year climatological normal, according to the latest Water Summary Update.
Water Summary Update: Rainy September removes all drought designations from the state 10/10/2019 11:58:00 AM View Count 2433 DES MOINES — Last month was the 15th wettest September on record for Iowa, removing all drought designations from the state, according to the latest Water Summary Update.
Water Summary Update: below-normal summer rainfall leading to drought conditions in Iowa 9/5/2019 11:58:00 AM View Count 2672 DES MOINES — For the first time in a year, there are areas of Iowa where groundwater conditions are beginning to show stress, according to the latest Water Summary Update.
Water Summary Update: below normal July rainfall has part of state headed toward drought conditions 8/8/2019 12:00:00 PM View Count 2504 DES MOINES — A second consecutive month of below normal precipitation has about 36 percent of the state rated as abnormally dry, according to the latest Water Summary Update.
Water Summary Update: June rainfall an inch below normal 7/11/2019 1:42:00 PM View Count 2470 DES MOINES — After higher amounts of rainfall in May, June rainfall in Iowa was 3.86 inches, or more than an inch below normal for the month, according to the latest Water Summary Update. June is typically the wettest month of the year in Iowa.
Water Summary Update: May the sixth wettest on record in Iowa 6/13/2019 10:59:00 AM View Count 2552 DES MOINES — Since last June, Iowa has seen its wettest 12-month stretch on record, with this May being the sixth wettest on record, according to the latest Water Summary Update.
Water Summary update 5/9/2019 2:44:00 PM View Count 2893 DES MOINES – While most stream flows continue to drop and April had below-average rainfall, the past 12 months set records for the wettest May to April period in Iowa’s history. Surrounding states have also experienced record wet years.
Water Summary Update: Rapid runoff led to historic flooding in March 4/5/2019 8:00:00 AM View Count 2567 DES MOINES — Although statewide precipitation was slightly below average in March, a combination of high precipitation in Nebraska, snowmelt and rapid runoff led to historic flooding along the Missouri River, according to the latest Water Summary Update.
Water Summary Update: cold, wet February brought more than 40 inches of snow 3/14/2019 1:20:00 PM View Count 2794 DES MOINES — More than 40 inches of snow fell in parts of northern Iowa in February, while temperatures fell as low as 20 degrees below zero, according to the latest Water Summary Update.
Water Summary Update: 2018 second only to 1993 in precipitation 1/10/2019 1:41:00 PM View Count 3151 DES MOINES — in 2018, Iowa received 45 inches of rainfall – nearly 10 inches more than normal. That puts 2018 second only to 1993 for average statewide precipitation, according to the year-end Water Summary Update.
Water Summary Update: this fall the third wettest on record 12/6/2018 1:21:00 PM View Count 3472 DES MOINES — This fall’s wet weather has pulled the entire state out of drought conditions for the first time since May 2017, according to the latest Water Summary Update.
Water Summary Update: the last year has been wetter, warmer 10/18/2018 1:42:00 PM View Count 2535 DES MOINES — The last year has been overall wetter and a bit warmer, according to the latest Water Summary Update.
Water Summary Update: wettest August in 11 years 9/6/2018 2:10:00 PM View Count 4766 DES MOINES — Drought conditions in Iowa changed thanks to the wettest August since 2007, according to the latest Water Summary Update.
Water Summary Update: Dry July for parts of Iowa 8/9/2018 2:16:00 PM View Count 2568 DES MOINES — Parts of Iowa experienced a very dry July, with Des Moines receiving only 0.38 inches of rain for the entire month, according to the latest Water Summary Update.
Water Summary Update: Wet and warm June for most of Iowa 7/12/2018 1:32:00 PM View Count 3101 DES MOINES — After a warm May, Iowa experienced a wet and warm June for most of the state, according to the latest Water Summary Update.
Water Summary Update: Warm May sets Iowa records 6/7/2018 4:10:00 PM View Count 3848 DES MOINES — The coldest Iowa April on record was followed by the third warmest May, according to the latest Water Summary Update.
Water Summary Update: cool and dry April sets records 5/11/2018 9:09:00 AM View Count 3285 DES MOINES —As most Iowans noticed, this was an unusual start to spring in April, exceptionally cooler and drier than normal. This April was the coldest on record, and the 13th driest on record, according to the latest Water Summary Update.
Water Summary Update: March continues streak of above-normal moisture conditions 4/12/2018 11:55:00 AM View Count 2783 DES MOINES —March brought 2.5 inches of rain to Iowa, the third month in a row of wetter than normal conditions. Despite this moisture, an area of persistent dryness remains in southern and southeast Iowa.
Water Summary Update: Extra precipitation at start of year helps improve drought conditions 3/8/2018 1:28:00 PM View Count 3246 DES MOINES — The normally dry months of January and February produced more than 2.5 inches of moisture this year, enough to continue improvement in drought conditions across much of the state, according to the latest Water Summary Update from the Iowa DNR.
Water Summary Update: Dry end to 2017 offsets wet start to year 1/4/2018 12:06:00 PM View Count 3636 DES MOINES — Iowa received a statewide annual precipitation of 33 inches in 2017, more than two inches less than normal, according to the latest Water Summary Update from the Iowa DNR.
Abnormally dry conditions return to Iowa following little rain in November 12/14/2017 11:44:00 AM View Count 3091 DES MOINES — For the first time since September, abnormally dry conditions have returned to the state following a dry November, according to the latest Water Summary Update from the Iowa DNR.
Fourth wettest October on record improves groundwater, drought conditions in Iowa 11/2/2017 11:59:00 AM View Count 3626 DES MOINES — Following a wet October, shallow groundwater and drought conditions in Iowa improved, according to the latest Water Summary Update from the Iowa DNR.
Drought conditions improve following fall rains in Iowa 10/9/2017 1:51:00 PM View Count 3678 DES MOINES — The last year has been overall drier and a bit warmer, according to the latest Water Summary Update.
Water Summary Update shows improvement in conditions across much of Iowa 8/24/2017 3:31:00 PM View Count 3493 DES MOINES – Recent rains have improved conditions across most of the state, but 2 percent of Iowa is still experiencing extreme drought conditions, mostly in Clarke and Wapello counties.
Water Summary Update shows dry areas expanding across two-thirds of Iowa 8/4/2017 8:45:00 AM View Count 3204 DES MOINES – While northeast Iowa received significant rainfall in July, about two-thirds of the state is experiencing dry conditions.
Water Summary Update shows expanding dry areas in Iowa 7/13/2017 1:05:00 PM View Count 4108 DES MOINES – Despite some rainfall across the state and local flooding in northeast Iowa, there is a growing area of dry conditions now covering almost half the state.
Water Summary Update shows no drought in Iowa thanks to cool, wet April 5/4/2017 11:38:00 AM View Count 3295 DES MOINES— For the first time in almost a year, none of Iowa is shown in any form of drought or dryness in the latest Water Summary Update.
Water Summary Update notes increased precipitation in March 4/6/2017 1:58:00 PM View Count 3126 DES MOINES— Increased precipitation in March brought relief from the abnormally dry start to the year and ended moderate drought conditions that had been creeping into southern Iowa.
Water Summary Update - 2016 in review 1/12/2017 2:39:00 PM View Count 3647 DES MOINES - Iowa started 2016 with dry conditions but extensive rains in August and September ranked this as the 19th wettest year on record.
Stream flows remain high, ground water conditions good heading into Iowa’s driest season 11/4/2016 9:47:00 AM View Count 7452 DES MOINES— October was the first month since June for below normal rainfall. Despite the drier month, stream flows remain high, and groundwater conditions are predominantly good. Iowa heads now into the driest and most hydrologically stable four months of the year.
Water Summary Update: 2016 Water Year much wetter than normal 10/11/2016 9:16:00 AM View Count 6869 DES MOINES— The 2016 Water Year (ending September 30, 2016) brought a statewide average precipitation of almost 45 inches, 9.6 inches more than normal. This ranks as the third wettest water year among 144 years of record.
Water Summary Update: July and August wettest months so far in 2016 9/1/2016 1:26:00 PM View Count 6241 July and August have easily been the two wettest months of 2016, and have continued to improve the overall hydrologic condition of the state. The National Drought Monitor has removed areas of moderate drought from Iowa, and less than 6 percent of the state is shown as “abnormally dry” – continuing the improvement that been occurring over the last several weeks.
Water Summary Update: Heavy August rains increase streamflow, continue to reduce areas of drought 8/18/2016 1:17:00 PM View Count 3638 DES MOINES— Continued rains in early August have kept conditions favorable for most of the state, but a small pocket of moderate drought in and around Wayne County remains.
Water Summary Update: Iowa Rainfall About Normal for this Time of Year 8/11/2016 2:13:00 PM View Count 3883 DES MOINES— The most recent two-week period in Iowa has been slightly warmer than normal, including a five-day stretch of hot and humid weather, but receiving about the average amount of rain.
Water Summary Update: Statewide Average Rainfall Almost Twice the Normal Average 7/26/2016 9:45:00 AM View Count 6635 DES MOINES—Recent rains have improved groundwater levels across Iowa, while the National Drought Monitor shows about a third of the state still rated as abnormally dry. Heavy rains that fell on July 19 will be reflected in the next update.
Water Summary Update Notes High Temps, Good Groundwater Levels 6/23/2016 3:11:00 PM View Count 3895 DES MOINES—Groundwater levels remain good across Iowa, while the National Drought Monitor shows an expanding area of dryness in southeast Iowa.
Water Summary Update Notes Dry Areas in South Central Iowa, Above Normal Streamflows 6/9/2016 1:15:00 PM View Count 3880 DES MOINES—A small patch of Iowa is abnormally dry for this time of year, according to the National Drought Monitor, with the rest of the state in a normal range.
Water Summary Update - Iowa Remains Drought-Free 3/10/2016 7:42:00 AM View Count 3601 DES MOINES—All of Iowa remains drought free, according to the National Drought Monitor, and stream flows remain normal to above normal for about half of the state.
Water Summary Update: 2015 in review 1/14/2016 7:40:00 AM View Count 3963 2015 started as the driest in the state since 1988, but frequent precipitation in April and May gradually eliminated drought worries by the end of the spring. Precipitation was much more evenly spread out during the year, resulting in frequent, but less pronounced flooding than in other wet years.