Drought worsens in Southeast Iowa

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.

This marks the fifth month in a row of below normal statewide average precipitation. Southeast Iowa was the driest region of the state, with Keokuk receiving only 0.25 inches of rain for the entire month.

"Although August was close to normal for rainfall on a statewide basis, rainfall was below normal for the fifth consecutive month,“ said Tim Hall, Iowa DNR’s coordinator of hydrology resources. ”The state needs above-normal rainfall for several months in a row, not another below-normal month. Over the past several years, the state has seen very wet September and October months, and that trend would be welcome in 2022.”

Some improvement in drought conditions was made in southwest and central Iowa, but drought conditions worsened in southeast Iowa over the last month.

Streamflow, soil moisture and shallow groundwater levels are all lower than normal in northwest and southeast Iowa.