Moderate drought conditions have expanded in Chickasaw and Bremer counties, according to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor Map for Iowa.
Based on precipitation through 7 am Tuesday, September 24, the southeast quarter of Chickasaw County and the eastern half of Bremer County are rated in the D1 category for moderate drought. The areas of moderate drought in both counties has more than doubled from the Drought report the week before.
The majority of Fayette County is also considered to be in moderate drought, along with the southwest third of Allamakee County and the southern half of Winneshiek County. The vast majority of Clayton County was rated in moderate drought the week prior, but that area had improved to about half the county this week.
The remainder of Chickasaw, Fayette, Winneshiek, Bremer and Allamakee counties, plus all of Floyd, Butler, Mitchell, Howard, Cerro Gordo, Worth, Franklin, and Grundy counties are rated in the DO category for being abnormally dry.
About 90% of Black Hawk County was rated in moderate drought last week, but this week over 95% of the county is now considered abnormally dry.
