Photo: U.S. Drought Monitor
(Lincoln, NE) -- This week's U-S Drought Monitor shows most of the state is abnormally dry or in moderate drought. There was slight improvement from last week, fewer areas that are abnormally dry, but little change in the moderate drought areas.
February of 2022 was the sixth driest February on record for Iowa, and the lack of precipitation resulted in the expansion of drought conditions across the state, according to the latest Water Summary Update.
Precipitation for the month averaged only 0.27 inches, almost an inch below normal. Drought conditions expanded during the month, with more than 90 percent of Iowa in some form of dryness or drought at the end of February. Areas of concern for shallow groundwater supplies exist in parts of northwest Iowa.
"Precipitation totals in February were disappointing, so instead of steady or improving conditions, we saw expansion of drought conditions in the state,” said Tim Hall, DNR’s coordinator of hydrology resources. “However, the first week of March saw over twice the amount of rain as the entire month of February, so that is encouraging. Hopefully the normal rains of March and April and May will improve conditions as we head into the growing season."
Streamflow levels are also below normal in many locations across the southern half of the state.
Photo: U.S. Drought Monitor