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Drought conditions have again declined with 12.5% of Iowa now in severe drought.

Statewide 40% of Iowa is in moderate drought and just over 71% is abnormally dry. State Climatologist Harry Hillaker says, “The Washington area is kind of on the what you might say is the eastern or northeastern edge of a much drier area over to the south central part of the state that runs roughly from the Creston, Osceola-area eastward to Fairfield. The driest area is roughly along, maybe a little south of Highway 34 across that part of the state.

Washington and Louisa Counties have areas of abnormally dry and moderate drought, mixed with normal conditions. Iowa County is mostly abnormally dry and Henry County is nearly all in moderate drought. Jefferson and Keokuk Counties are mostly in moderate drought with the southwest corners in severe drought. It’s estimated that at this time 1,118,983 people in Iowa are in drought areas. Hillaker says there’s just a minimal chance for rain in the coming week but temperatures will remain mild.