Much of Region Still Rated in Moderate Drought

Most of north central and northeast Iowa remain rated in moderate drought in the latest U.S. Drought Monitor for Iowa, with little change from the previous reporting period.

While much of the region received rain and/or snow with Wednesday’s (03.19) winter storm season, all of that precipitation occurred after the drought report cutoff of 7 am Tuesday, March 18th. Thus, all of Allamakee, Black Hawk, Bremer, Buchanan, Butler, Cerro Gordo, Chickasaw, Clayton, Fayette, Floyd, Hancock, Kossuth, Mitchell, Winnebago and Worth counties are still in D1 for moderate drought.

The southwest third of Franklin County and the southwest corner of Grundy County are rated in the DO category for abnormally dry for the second week in a row, with remaining areas of both counties still in moderate. Almost all of Hardin County is considered abnormally dry.