Photo: U.S. Drought Monitor
(Undated) -- Recent rains have helped improve Iowa's drought picture. This week's U.S. Drought Monitor still shows all of Iowa either abnormally dry or in some level in drought. Rains last week have lifted a large part of northeast Iowa out of exceptional drought, with the exception of Benton and Tama counties. Most of northeast Iowa, however, remains in extreme drought. The bulk of the state is either in moderate or severe drought.
The National Weather Service is predicting warmer weather Friday into the weekend. Showers and storms are possible in northwest Iowa Friday night into early Saturday. Rainfall is expected to be spotty over the next two weeks.