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.
While there was some dryness in the southwestern portion of the state, 27 northern Iowa counties marked their wettest year on record.
Streamflow was above normal for most of the year, while shallow groundwater levels recovered from low levels in southern Iowa to become normal to above normal for the entire state.
"The concerns about dryness and drought in southeastern Iowa were ended with the wet summer and fall, and the entire state is in pretty good shape for groundwater going into the normally dry months of winter," said Tim Hall, DNR’s coordinator of hydrology resources.
Temperatures were typical of Iowa weather in 2018 – all over the map. April was the coldest on record. May was the third warmest, and this June was the 10th warmest. November was 6.4 degrees below average and December was 5.1 degrees above average.
For a thorough review of Iowa’s water resource trends, go to www.iowadnr.gov/watersummaryupdate.
The report is prepared by technical staff from Iowa DNR, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, IIHR—Hydroscience and Engineering, and the U.S. Geological Survey, in collaboration with Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Department.