Water Summary Update: A very dry October concludes with some beneficial rainfall 11/7/2024 11:58:00 AM View Count 1811 After the driest September in 152 years of records, nearly all of October experienced similar record dry conditions, according to the latest Water Summary Update
Water Summary Update: Water Year ends with a surplus despite very dry September 10/3/2024 1:48:00 PM View Count 5036 Iowa’s Water Year, which covers Oct. 1, 2023 to Sept. 30, 2024, was the first with above-normal precipitation since 2019, and saw the end of the four year drought in Iowa, according to the latest Water Summary Update.
Water Summary Update: Decreased rainfall in August sees return of dry conditions 9/5/2024 12:16:00 PM View Count 4527 Consistent above-normal rainfall during the summer months slowed in August, leading to a return of dry conditions, according to the latest Water Summary Update.
Water Summary Update: July rainfall continues positive trend 8/8/2024 4:34:00 PM View Count 4717 After significant localized heavy rainfall and flooding in June, July continued the trend with above-average rainfall, according to the latest Water Summary Update.
Water Summary Update: June brings historic rainfall to northwest Iowa 7/11/2024 2:02:00 PM View Count 4066 Some areas of northwest Iowa received more than half a year's worth of rain during the final week of June, leading to significant flooding conditions, according to the latest Water Summary Update.
Water Summary Update: Drought conditions end after four years 6/6/2024 3:06:00 PM View Count 2532 After four years of below normal rainfall and drought conditions, the State of Iowa has returned to normal hydrologic conditions, according to the latest Water Summary Update.
Water Summary Update: April rainfall helps improve drought conditions across the state 5/9/2024 2:40:00 PM View Count 1695 Consistent above-normal rainfall in April has improved overall drought conditions across the state, leading to increased river and stream levels, according to the latest Water Summary Update.
Water Summary Update: Late March showers lead to some improvement in drought conditions 4/4/2024 12:46:00 PM View Count 2301 DES MOINES – After the second driest February on record, above-normal rainfall in March helped improve some drought conditions across Iowa, according to the latest Water Summary Update.
Water Summary Update: Extremely dry February extends record drought conditions streak 3/7/2024 2:25:00 PM View Count 2628 DES MOINES -- February set multiple records for warm, dry conditions and minimal precipitation, according to the latest Water Summary Update.
Water Summary Update: Statewide drought conditions improve with January snowfall 2/9/2024 10:36:00 AM View Count 2320 DES MOINES -- January’s above-normal snowfall has improved drought conditions across the state, according to the latest Water Summary Update.
Water Summary Update: Drought conditions persist despite increased December rainfall 1/11/2024 4:14:00 PM View Count 4058 DES MOINES -- Despite above-normal rainfall in December, overall conditions at the end of 2023 remain dry, according to the latest Water Summary Update
Drought conditions continue during record streak 12/21/2023 2:10:00 PM View Count 5936 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.
Water Summary Update: November one of driest months on record 12/7/2023 2:37:00 PM View Count 3457 DES MOINES -- Preliminary numbers show November to be one of the driest months on record, according to the latest Water Summary Update.
Water Summary Update: October rainfall breaks streak of dry months 11/9/2023 6:39:00 PM View Count 4419 DES MOINES - October’s above-normal precipitation broke a streak of drier-than-normal months that began in March, according to the latest Water Summary Update.
Water Summary Update: 2023 Water Year end shows third dry year in a row 10/6/2023 11:15:00 AM View Count 5601 DES MOINES - For the third year in a row, precipitation was below normal for Iowa’s Water Year, according to the latest Water Summary Update.
Drought conditions worsen – but recent rain will help 9/21/2023 2:35:00 PM View Count 4512 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 3533 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 3553 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 3573 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 3316 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 5/4/2023 2:25:00 PM View Count 2414 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 3506 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 2746 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 3828 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 5663 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 8625 2022 ended on a good note, with December’s precipitation above normal.
Water Summary Update: Normal November rainfall, drought conditions remain 12/9/2022 1:34:00 PM View Count 5902 DES MOINES — The month of November ended with much of northwestern Iowa receiving below normal precipitation and southeastern Iowa observing above average totals.
Water Summary Update: October 2022 was 15th driest on record 11/10/2022 2:24:00 PM View Count 4480 DES MOINES — The month of October ended as the 15th driest on record, with a deficit of 1.80 inches of rainfall. This marks the seventh month in a row of below-normal rainfall for the state.
Water Summary Update: Water Year ends on a downward trend 10/6/2022 2:53:00 PM View Count 2903 DES MOINES - After yet another month of below normal precipitation across the state, the water year ended with deteriorating conditions across Iowa, according to the latest Water Summary Update.
Water Summary Update: Drought expands in Iowa after another dry month 9/8/2022 1:52:00 PM View Count 2844 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 3772 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 4075 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.
Water Summary Update: Some improvement in drought conditions despite below normal May rainfall 6/9/2022 2:15:00 PM View Count 2035 DES MOINES - Iowa’s precipitation in May was 3.46 inches, 1.38 inches below normal for the month, according to the latest Water Summary Update.
Water Summary Update: Near-average April rains help drought conditions improve 5/5/2022 2:57:00 PM View Count 1397 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 1509 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 1363 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 1858 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.
Dry year ends on a wet note - 2021 Water Summary Update 1/13/2022 2:29:00 PM View Count 1180 DES MOINES — Last year was the second dry year in a row for Iowa. Over the previous 24 months parts of central and west central Iowa received a foot less than normal moisture.
Water Summary Update: Despite dry November, drought conditions improve and stabilize 12/9/2021 1:17:00 PM View Count 1679 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 1745 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 1969 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: August rainfall brings improvement to drought conditions 9/2/2021 2:37:00 PM View Count 2002 DES MOINES — August was the first of the summer months to bring above-normal precipitation to the state, providing significant relief to the ongoing drought conditions, according to the latest Water Summary Update.
Water Summary Update: Despite average July rainfall, extreme drought returns to Iowa 8/5/2021 1:48:00 PM View Count 1794 DES MOINES — Iowa received 3.98 inches of rain in July, slightly less than normal, according to the latest Water Summary Update.
Water Summary Update: Some rain in June, but drought spreads 7/8/2021 11:45:00 AM View Count 1851 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 3702 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.