(Undated) -- Recent rains have made a dent in Iowa's drought picture. This week's U-S Drought Monitor shows continue dry conditions in most of the state, but severity has eased. There's also a growing part of the state that has been removed from any drought conditions. There are still two areas in extreme drought, north of Waterloo and west of Cedar Rapids. Central Iowa remains in moderate to severe drought.
The report does not include rain from this week.
The National Weather Service is predicting numerous showers and storms are expected today. The western half of the state should begin to dry out this afternoon, while showers and thunderstorms continue further east. A few of these storms may become strong to severe, but widespread severe weather is unlikely.
Rainfall amounts across the state will range from 1 to 2 inches with locally higher amounts before all the precipitation exits this evening into tonight. The moderate to heavy rains may cause ponding of water and within bank rises on rivers and streams.