Drought conditions in northeast Iowa have worsened amid a lack of rainfall, with another stretch of hot, dry weather coming to the area.
According to the U.S. Drought Monitor for Iowa, based on precipitation (or lack thereof), through 7 am Tuesday, August 29nd, most of northeast Iowa is now considered to be in the D3/extreme drought category. The area now rated in extreme drought has increased over three times in size from a week earlier.
All of Chickasaw, Bremer, Howard, Winneshiek and Allamakee counties are now experiencing extreme drought, along with almost all of Floyd, Butler, Mitchell and Black Hawk counties. About two-thirds of Franklin and Fayette counties, half of Cerro Gordo County and a northeast corner of Worth County also rated D3 for extreme drought.
The National Weather Service (NWS) in Lacrosse reports that, from August 23rd to August 29th, rainfall totals were up to four-tenths of an inch. The highest rainfall totals were 0.39 inches in Charles City; 0.38 inches in St. Ansgar; and 0.36 inches near Nora Springs. During this time period, typically nine-tenths of an inch of rain falls.Â
Conditions aren’t expected to improve anytime soon. The NWS forecast for northeast Iowa does not include a chance for rain until Tuesday while calling for another heatwave to hit the area. High temperatures Friday (09.01) will push towards 90 degrees, with 96 predicted for Saturday (09.02), 97 Sunday (09.03), 96 Labor Day Monday (09.04), and 93 on Tuesday (09.05).
