Extreme Drought Continues in Northeast Iowa

While much-needed rain is in the forecast through Saturday (10.14), this week’s U.S. Drought Monitor for Iowa still rates the majority of northeast Iowa in “extreme drought.”

Based on precipitation through 7 am Tuesday, October 10, all of Allamakee, Black Hawk, Bremer, Buchanan, Chickasaw, Howard, Fayette, Floyd, Mitchell and Winneshiek counties are still rated in the D3/extreme drought category. Most of Butler and Cerro Gordo counties and two-thirds of Franklin, along with about half of Worth, Clayton, and Grundy counties are also in extreme drought.

Farther to the south, almost all of Benton County, two-thirds of Linn County and about half of Tama County are rated in D4/exceptional drought, the worst drought category possible.  

The National Weather Service in La Crosse says from October 4 through October 10, less than a third of an inch of rain fell across northeast Iowa. The highest rainfall total was .33 inches reported near Decorah.

Since April 1, precipitation deficits have ranged from near-normal to 13 inches below normal.