DNR News Releases

Search for a News Release

Press/Media inquiries: PIO@dnr.iowa.gov

DNR News Releases

Archive by tag: DroughtReturn

Iowa stream flows concerning heading in to winter

• 10/31/2024 1:46:00 PM
• View Count 4001

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

• 12/21/2023 2:10:00 PM
• View Count 6009

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

• 9/21/2023 2:35:00 PM
• View Count 4555

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

• 9/7/2023 3:08:00 PM
• View Count 3565

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

• 8/3/2023 2:54:00 PM
• View Count 3587

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.

Water Summary Update for June 2023: Drought Conditions Intensify after another dry month

• 7/6/2023 2:30:00 PM
• View Count 3621

DES MOINES - The state of Iowa experienced another dry month, with June providing 2.90 inches of rain, only 55 percent of normal. This continues the drier-than-normal trend seen in March, April, and May. The US Drought Monitor shows that nearly all Iowa faces some dryness or drought.

Drought watch in place with below normal rainfall in May

• 6/8/2023 3:06:00 PM
• View Count 3344

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 ...

Drought conditions continue to impact water levels at Blue Lake in Lewis and Clark State Park

• 6/6/2023 2:19:00 PM
• View Count 3376

ONAWA – Blue Lake, located within Lewis and Clark State Park, continues to experience abnormally low water levels that may impact recreation opportunities. Launching boats is not recommended with the current low water levels.

Water Summary Update: April 2023 - Another dry month

• 5/4/2023 2:25:00 PM
• View Count 2443

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...

Water Summary Update: March 2023 - First below normal precipitation month of 2023.

• 4/6/2023 2:07:00 PM
• View Count 3554

After four months in a row of above normal precipitation, totals for March came in lower than normal. 

Water Summary Update: February 2023 - New Iowa Drought Plan, continued wet conditions

• 3/9/2023 12:49:00 PM
• View Count 2791

This month’s Water Summary Update introduces the use of the 2023 Iowa Drought Plan (IDP). 

DNR releases Iowa Drought Plan

• 3/9/2023 12:47:00 PM
• View Count 3921

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.

January Water Summary Update: Wetter than normal month, drought remains.

• 2/9/2023 12:39:00 PM
• View Count 5692

The start of 2023 was encouraging for water resources in Iowa. 

Water summary update for 2022 - Third year in a row of drought

• 1/5/2023 2:02:00 PM
• View Count 8658

2022 ended on a good note, with December’s precipitation above normal.

Water Summary Update: Drought expands in Iowa after another dry month

• 9/8/2022 1:52:00 PM
• View Count 2872

DES MOINES — Iowa’s August precipitation was 3.53 inches, or 0.6 inches below normal for the month, according to the latest Water Summary Update. 

Water Summary Update: Drought expands in Iowa after another dry month

• 8/4/2022 4:42:00 PM
• View Count 3800

Des Moines - Iowa’s July precipitation was 3.39 inches, or 0.78 inches below normal for the month, according to the latest Water Summary Update. Some locations in southern Iowa had July rainfall of four inches less than normal.

Water Summary Update: Iowa sees below normal rainfall for third month in a row

• 7/7/2022 11:28:00 AM
• View Count 4105

DES MOINES — Iowa’s June precipitation was 3.75 inches, 1.51 inches below normal for the month, according to the latest Water Summary Update.

Public meetings to address statewide drought plan

• 6/16/2022 11:19:00 AM
• View Count 3661

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: Near-average April rains help drought conditions improve

• 5/5/2022 2:57:00 PM
• View Count 1433

DES MOINES — Precipitation for April averaged 3.20 inches, about a half inch below normal. The near-normal rainfall helped to continue improvement of drought conditions in Iowa, according to the latest Water Summary Update. 

Water Summary Update: Drought conditions improve with March rainfall

• 4/7/2022 11:57:00 AM
• View Count 1541

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: Extremely dry February leads to drought expansion

• 3/10/2022 2:05:00 PM
• View Count 1412

DES MOINES — Last month was the sixth driest February on record for Iowa, and the lack of precipitation resulted in the expansion of drought conditions across the state, according to the latest Water Summary Update.

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

• 2/10/2022 4:37:00 PM
• View Count 1898

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: Despite dry November, drought conditions improve and stabilize

• 12/9/2021 1:17:00 PM
• View Count 1732

DES MOINES — After a very wet October, November was drier than normal, but conditions improved over the month. As the state enters winter, conditions have stabilized, according to the most recent Water Summary Update.  

Significant October rainfall improves Iowa drought conditions

• 11/4/2021 12:07:00 PM
• View Count 1768

DES MOINES —This October ranks as one of the top 10 wettest Octobers on record, with rainfall significantly improving drought conditions, according to the latest Water Summary Update.

Water Summary Update: End of the 2021 Water Year sees continued drought conditions

• 10/7/2021 11:50:00 AM
• View Count 2003

DES MOINES — The end of September brought the 2021 Water Year to a close, and drought conditions have not improved significantly as the state moves into fall.

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

• 7/8/2021 11:45:00 AM
• View Count 1874

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.

Water Summary Update: Recent rainfall should help improve drought conditions

• 6/24/2021 11:42:00 AM
• View Count 3765

DES MOINES —  With seven days remaining in June, Iowa precipitation totals remain 2 inches below normal with nearly the entire state in some form of dryness or drought, according to the latest Water Summary Update.

Four safety tips to enjoy fireworks, protect sensitive people

• 6/24/2021 11:41:00 AM
• View Count 2941

As much as we love fireworks displays, drifting smoke can cause breathing problems for some and drought conditions may pose additional risks this year.

Water Summary Update: Nearly 90 percent of Iowa experiencing some degree of drought

• 6/10/2021 11:01:00 AM
• View Count 3358

DES MOINES —  Precipitation averaged more than an inch below normal for the month of May, streamflows are dropping, soil moisture is low and shallow groundwater conditions are a concern in several areas of the state, according to the latest Water Summary Update.

DNR and partners to host free online panel discussion on drought conditions

• 5/13/2021 1:03:00 PM
• View Count 1851

DES MOINES —  The Iowa DNR and the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, along with other state and federal partners, will host a free online webinar May 26 to discuss drought conditions in Iowa.

Water Summary Update: Drought conditions improving after rainy, warm March

• 4/8/2021 11:52:00 AM
• View Count 1790

DES MOINES — Drought conditions are improving across the state, thanks to more precipitation than usual during March, according to the latest Water Summary Update.

Water Summary Update: February 2021 the eighth coldest on record in Iowa

• 3/11/2021 3:06:00 PM
• View Count 2547

DES MOINES — Last month’s polar vortex led to the eighth coldest February in Iowa on record while also tallying below-average precipitation, according to the latest Water Summary Update.

Learn more on updated drought conditions

• 2/25/2021 11:15:00 AM
• View Count 1956

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: January precipitation, temperatures higher than average

• 2/4/2021 11:44:00 AM
• View Count 1888

DES MOINES — While January is usually the driest month of the year, last month saw above-normal precipitation and above-normal temperatures across the state, according to the latest Water Summary Update.

Water Summary Update: drought remains following a dry 2020

• 1/14/2021 1:39:00 PM
• View Count 2047

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

• 12/31/2020 11:15:00 AM
• View Count 2159

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: drought in Iowa largely unchanged in a warmer November

• 12/10/2020 12:00:00 PM
• View Count 2248

DES MOINES — With slightly lower than normal precipitation in November, northwest and west central Iowa continue to show signs of significant dryness and drought, according to the latest Water Summary Update.

Water Summary Update: Water Year 2020 ends on a dry note

• 10/8/2020 12:22:00 PM
• View Count 2761

DES MOINES — Iowa’s statewide precipitation was 3.76 inches below normal for the 2020 Water Year, according to the latest Water Summary Update.

Water Summary Update: August brings drought conditions to nearly entire state

• 9/10/2020 11:59:00 AM
• View Count 2858

DES MOINES — August 2020 was the third driest August in 148 years of statewide records despite the Derecho storm event, according to the latest Water Summary Update.

Water Summary Update: extreme drought appears in Iowa

• 8/6/2020 1:59:00 PM
• View Count 4309

DES MOINES — For the first time in almost two years, an area of extreme drought exists in Iowa, according to the latest Water Summary Update.

Water Summary Update: 35 percent of state classified as abnormally dry

• 7/9/2020 1:40:00 PM
• View Count 3140

DES MOINES — Although statewide precipitation was near normal in June, northeast Iowa experienced extra wet conditions while western parts of the state have entered moderate drought, according to the latest Water Summary Update.

Water Summary Update: May rainfall about normal for Iowa

• 6/4/2020 12:43:00 PM
• View Count 2506

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

• 5/14/2020 1:24:00 PM
• View Count 2240

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 2825

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 2284

DES MOINES — With a drier February, stream levels have improved across much of the state, according to the latest Water Summary Update. 

Page 1 of 2 FirstPrevious [1]2 NextLast