The lingering presence of wildfire smoke has made for an unusual start to summer across the Midwest. It also comes during a near-record drought and the threat of hotter summers.
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Articles Tagged: Drought
The Marion Water Department recently set a new record for the amount of water pumped in May, with nearly 111 million gallons. The last time May’s record for water use broke was in 2012, with over 108 million gallons of water.
Arid conditions are expected to persist in eastern Iowa, Missouri, Illinois and Wisconsin.
The abrupt dryness from flash droughts, like the one that has been occurring in Iowa, come on quickly and can wilt crops and waterways faster than long-term droughts. New research finds the dangerous dry spells will become more common in the future.
Drought conditions spread so quickly in May that state experienced a “flash drought.”
Iowa has a new drought plan — the first since the 1980s, when droughts were less frequent and less intense than what Iowa has seen in recent years because of climate change.
Nearly three-quarters of the state is suffering from some degree of drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. The worst conditions are in Northwest Iowa.
NEWSTRACK | CATCHING UP ON AN EARLIER STORY: In east-central Iowa, the crops south of Interstate 80 fared worse than those north of the interstate.
NEWSTRACK | CATCHING UP ON AN EARLIER STORY: In east-central Iowa, the crops south of Interstate 80 fared worse than those north of the interstate.
Widespread rainfall last week in the southeastern half of the state significantly reduced drought conditions.
Drought conditions are likely to develop over the southern half of Iowa in August as the month starts with a string of abnormally hot days with little chance for rain.
Drought conditions are likely to develop over the southern half of Iowa in August as the month starts with a string of abnormally hot days with little chance for rain.
State officials want to develop a drought plan that would include a trigger point to call for precautions, such as water rationing. Iowa has been ruled highly vulnerable to drought in part because crops are not irrigated.
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