Severe Drought Conditions Expand Again in Northeast Iowa

Severe drought conditions have expanded in northeast Iowa over the last week.

According to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor for Iowa, based on the one-week precipitation period through 7 am Tuesday, August 15th, all of Bremer, Chickasaw, Fayette, Howard, Winneshiek, Black Hawk, Allamakee and Buchanan counties are now in the D2/severe drought category. 

The eastern halves of Floyd, Butler and Grundy Counties, plus, northeast two-thirds of Mitchell County. Most of Clayton County, and a northeast corner of Worth Count are also in severe drought. 

The western halves of Floyd, Butler, and Grundy counties, plus the southwest quarter of Mitchell County, the majority of Worth County and all of Franklin and Cerro Gordo counties are rated in the D1/moderate drought category.

The driest areas in the state are in southeast Iowa, where most of Davis and Wapello counties are rated in the D3/extreme drought category.