Drought Conditions Expand in Northeast, North Central Iowa

With the number of northeast and north central Iowa counties under burn bans, it’s no surprise that the latest U.S. Drought Monitor Map shows drought becoming more widespread and more pronounced.

Based on precipitation through 7 am Tuesday, October 8th, the southeast half of Chickasaw County is now rated in the D2 category for severe drought after being rated as D1 for moderate drought the week before. Almost three-quarters of Bremer and Fayette counties have also regressed into severe drought, as well as the southern third of Winneshiek County. 

Severe drought has also started to creep into Allamakee, Buchanan, Clayton, and Black Hawk counties. The remainder of Chickasaw, Bremer and Fayette counties are in moderate drought.

Meanwhile, several areas rated in the D0 category last week for being abnormally dry, have worsened into moderate drought this week. That includes all of Floyd, Franklin, and Butler counties, plus the vast majority of Cerro Gordo County. Moderate drought is also showing up in Mitchell, Howard, Worth, Winneshiek, Allamakee, and Clayton counties.

Remaining areas of Mitchell, Howard, Winneshiek, Allamakee, Clayton and Worth counties are rated abnormally dry. 

Burn bans are currently active in Franklin, Fayette, Chickasaw, Floyd, Howard, Winneshiek, Butler, Cerro Gordo, Clayton, Buchanan, Delaware, Hancock, Grundy, Hardin, Hamilton, and Wright counties. As of 9 pm Friday (10.11), 57 of Iowa’s 99 counties were under burn bans.