Photo: U.S. Drought Monitor
(Undated) -- This week's US Drought Monitor map shows nearly all of Iowa in some level of drought. The only exception is a small portion of extreme southwest Iowa. This week's map, which does not include rainfall recorded earlier this week, shows worsening conditions in northeast Iowa. Several counties in far northeast Iowa have now slipped into exceptional drought. Part of Benton and Tama counties are also in exceptional drought according to the map. The area in exceptional drought is nearly 5-percent of the state.
Most of Iowa is in severe drought.
Parts of Iowa received at least one inch of rain fall earlier this week, with isolated heavier amounts of between 4-7 inches of rain.
The National Weather Service says chances for showers and storms return Friday and into the weekend, with possible severe weather Saturday afternoon and evening. Lingering showers and storms are expected Sunday into early next week, with slightly cooler temperatures.