U.S. Drought Monitor

Iowa’s drought conditions lessened slightly from last week to this week according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. This week just over one percent is in moderate drought in south-central Iowa and 12.2% is abnormally dry, down two points. State climatologist Harry Hillaker reports the average rainfall across the state was 1.5 inches last week and thunderstorms dampened the southern one-half to two-thirds of Iowa. Topsoil moisture is 77% adequate and 20% surplus, while subsoil moisture is 78% adequate and 19% surplus. The figures provided do not include rainfall that happened after Wednesday.