There are no noticeable changes in the latest U.S. Drought Monitor for Iowa, which means the majority of northeast Iowa remains rated in moderate drought.
Based on precipitation through 7 am Tuesday, April 1, all of Allamakee, Black Hawk, Bremer, Buchanan, Butler, Chickasaw, Clayton, Howard, Fayette, Floyd, and Mitchell counties are still in the D1 category for moderate drought.
The western three-quarters of Cerro Gordo, Franklin and Worth counties, along with the southwest corner of Grundy County, hold in the DO category for abnormally dry, with remaining areas of those counties in moderate drought. All of Hancock, and Wright counties, plus the vast majority of Winnebago County, are also rated abnormally dry.
Several areas saw some encouraging precipitation totals during the month of March. According to National Weather Service data, Hampton received almost 5 inches, with Osage getting about 4.5 inches, and Mason City and Saint Ansgar around 4 inches apiece.
Other March precipitation totals include 3.75 inches for Charles City; around 3 inches for New Hampton, Decorah, Nashua, and Grundy Center; with Waukon, Waterloo, Fayette, and Forest City receiving between 2 and 2.5 inches.
NWS data shows Oelwein only receiving about 1.25 inches of precipitation in March.
