Iowa enters winter with growing drought conditions despite recent snow

Despite having a wetter-than-average July due to more rainfall, Iowa’s dry autumn conditions have let drought conditions creep back into parts of the state.

As a result, “drought watch designations” have been identified in three of Iowa’s five Drought Regions, in December’s Water Summary Update from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

In December’s update — which looks at the water trends from November — three regions were labeled as “watch” designations, including in northeast Iowa, southeast and central Iowa, as well as part of the northwest corner of the state.

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According to data collected by the DNR, Iowa’s statewide precipitation in November averaged 1.57 inches, which was about 0.25 inches below November’s typical precipitation trends.

“As we enter the driest part of the year, the long-term outlook raises the concern of drought persistence through February,” Jessica Reese McIntyre, DNR environmental specialist, stated in the report.

However, the DNR said so far this winter, the season ranks as the “fifth snowiest November in 138 years of records for Iowa,” after most of the state saw significant snowfall over the last few days of November.

The U.S. Drought Monitor released an updated drought report on Thursday, showing that “moderate drought” conditions are present in some parts of the state, mainly in Eastern Iowa and in pockets of Northwest Iowa.

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“Abnormally dry” conditions cover about 43.65 percent of the state as of Tuesday, when measurements were taken. Three months ago, only about 4.12 percent of that state was experiencing abnormally dry conditions.

“According to Iowa’s Drought Plan, most of the state saw worsening conditions due to widespread precipitation deficits,” the DNR’s report stated. “As a result, portions of northwest and all of Eastern Iowa carry a drought watch designation. Conditions remained mostly stable in central and southwestern Iowa.”

Olivia Cohen covers energy and environment for The Gazette and is a corps member with Report for America, a national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on under-covered issues. She is also a contributing writer for the Ag and Water Desk, an independent journalism collaborative focusing on the Mississippi River Basin.

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Comments: olivia.cohen@thegazette.com