Iowa facing drought conditions

DES MOINES — More than 78 percent of Iowa is experiencing abnormally dry to severe drought conditions, according to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

Statewide, the average precipitation in April was 1.61 inches, which is 1.9 inches below normal, the DNR’s monthly Water Summary Update said.

The month was one of the top 20 driest Aprils in 149 years of statewide weather records, the report said.

“All of the indicators used in the Water Summary Update are trending drier,” said Tim Hall, coordinator of the DNR’s hydrology resources.

“This time of the year, the state should be receiving more than an inch per week of rain, so we are falling further behind.”

Normally, Iowa receives nearly two-thirds of its annual rainfall from April through August.

In the past month, stream flows across about one-third of the state have moved into below-normal conditions, and shallow groundwater supplies are of concern in northern and northwestern Iowa.

Hall said the 78 percent of the state rated as experiencing abnormally dry to severe drought conditions is the largest percentage since September 2020.

For more information, visit iowadnr.gov/WaterSummaryUpdate.