Drought conditions have improved across Iowa thanks to recent spring rains, despite below-average precipitation in April, according to the latest Water Summary Update. April brought an average of 3.33 inches of rain statewide, about 0.34 inches below normal, and followed a wetter-than-average March that helped relieve drought and abnormally dry conditions. Statewide temperatures averaged 50 degrees last month, 1.4 degrees above normal. Jessica Reese McIntyre, an environmental specialist with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR), says, “Drought and dry conditions improved across the state due to spring rain in March and April, but most notably in northeast, west, and central Iowa. The drought watch issued in March for northeast Iowa has been removed. The National Weather Service precipitation outlooks predict an equal chance for the entire state for above, below, or normal precipitation for much of the state through July.” Conditions remained stable elsewhere, southeastern Iowa experienced slight degradation, and just over half the state continues to experience some level of dryness, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. The Water Summary Update is prepared monthly by technical staff from Iowa DNR, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, IIHR—Hydroscience and Engineering, and the U.S. Geological Survey, in collaboration with Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Department. The full report is available below.
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https://www.iowadnr.gov/environmental-protection/water-quality/water-quality-monitoring-assessment/water-summary-update
