The latest U.S. Drought Monitor for Iowa shows about two-thirds of the region still in moderate drought, but also indicates an expansion of areas considered abnormally dry.
Based on precipitation through 7 am Tuesday, December 31st, all of Black Hawk, Bremer, Buchanan, Butler, Cerro Gordo, Floyd, Franklin, Grundy, Kossuth, and Winnebago counties remain rated in the D1 category for moderate drought.
The southwest two-thirds of Chickasaw, southern three-quarters of Fayette, southern two-thirds of Mitchell, southwest three-quarters of Clayton, and southwestern two-thirds of Worth counties are also in moderate drought. The remaining areas of those counties have improved to the D0 category for abnormally dry.
All of Allamakee and Winneshiek counties, plus almost all of Howard County are also now rated as abnormally dry.
