For the first time in nearly a year, state officials are saying groundwater conditions in areas of Iowa are starting to show stress. The Water Summary Update for the month of August was published today (Thursday) and indicates dry conditions were the norm across the state. Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Hydrology Resources Coordinator, Tim Hall, says “For the third month in a row, Iowa received below normal rainfall. After such a wet start to the year, the below normal rainfall has pushed more than half of the state into abnormally dry or moderate drought conditions.” The driest conditions can be found in southeast and central areas of the state. Statewide summer rainfall measured 10.74 inches, approximately three inches below average, and statewide temperatures came in 1.6 degrees cooler than normal at 69.9 degrees. Muscatine, Little Sioux and Oakland recorded August’s highest temperatures of 92 degrees. Fayette in northeast Iowa recorded the lowest at 47 degrees. The Iowa Water Summary Update is prepared by technical staff from six different state and federal agencies. A link to the full report can be found included with this story on our website.
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Water-Summary-Update-Sept.-5-2019
