Iowa nearly drought-free after heavy rainfall

Several rounds of heavy rain this month have nearly erased drought conditions across the state.

Several rounds of heavy rain this month have nearly erased drought conditions across the state.

WE’LL LOOK FORWARD TO THAT REPORT. LET’S GO AHEAD AND TALK ABOUT THE WEATHER RIGHT NOW. NOT WHAT IT’S LIKE CURRENTLY, BUT THE FACT THAT ALL THE RAIN IS ACTUALLY HELPING THE DROUGHT SITUATION IN OUR STATE. IT’S MADE A BIG DIFFERENCE, DAVID. YEAH, IT HAS MADE A HUGE DIFFERENCE OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS. YOU KNOW, IT WASN’T THAT LONG AGO WE WERE TALKING ABOUT DROUGHT CONDITIONS FOR MOST OF THE STATE. NOW YOU LOOK AT THIS LATEST DROUGHT MONITOR CAME OUT TODAY. AND REALLY THE ONLY PLACE THAT STILL HAS ANY LEVEL OF DROUGHT IS RIGHT AROUND OTTUMWA BECAUSE WE’VE HAD SO MUCH RAIN OVER THE PAST SEVERAL WEEKS HERE IN DES MOINES. THESE ARE THE NUMBERS FROM YESTERDAY, BECAUSE TODAY ISN’T OFFICIAL YET, BUT THROUGH YESTERDAY WE HAD EIGHT INCHES OF RAIN. WE GOT ANOTHER 6/10 ON TOP OF THAT. TODAY THAT PUTS US NEARLY SIX INCHES ABOVE AVERAGE FOR THE MONTH. AND THAT PUTS US ALMOST THREE INCHES ABOVE AVERAGE FOR THE YEAR. THERE’S BEEN WIDESPREAD 6 TO 10IN OF RAINFALL ACROSS CENTRAL AND NORTHERN IOWA HERE SO FAR THIS MONTH. SOUTHERN IOWA NOT QUITE AS MUCH, BUT I WANT TO SHOW YOU THE DIFFERENCE HERE. BACK ON MARCH, IN MARCH, MOST OF THE STATE HAD DROUGHT CONDITIONS AND NOW NOT SO MUCH. HOPEFULLY WE DON’T CONTINUE THAT TREND SO FAR THAT WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT FLOODING. BUT SO FAR IT’S BE

Updated: 5:24 PM CDT Jul 24, 2025

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Iowa nearly drought-free after heavy rainfall

Several rounds of heavy rain this month have nearly erased drought conditions across the state.

Updated: 5:24 PM CDT Jul 24, 2025

Editorial Standards ⓘ

Recent widespread and heavy rainfall has helped to ease the drought conditions across nearly the entire state. The latest drought monitor update this week shows that Iowa is now nearly drought free. Most of central and northern Iowa has seen between 4 and 8 inches of rain so far this month, with some areas seeing significantly more than 8 inches of rain. Meanwhile, southern Iowa has seen slightly drier conditions with rainfall generally less than 4 inches, but still enough to ease the drought.The Thursday drought monitor update shows that less than 1% of the state is still seeing moderate drought conditions. That is a decrease from roughly 3.5% earlier last week. Slightly more of the state is still seeing abnormally dry conditions, but not officially in drought conditions.This is a huge change from earlier this year when nearly two-thirds of state was seeing drought conditions. Back on March 4, 73% of Iowa was experiencing moderate or severe drought conditions after a very dry winter and start to spring.With more storm chances across the state this weekend into next week, it's possible that we could finally eliminate drought conditions from the state. The last time Iowa was totally drought free was back in July 2024.

DES MOINES, Iowa —

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Iowa rainfall so far in July

The Thursday drought monitor update shows that less than 1% of the state is still seeing moderate drought conditions. That is a decrease from roughly 3.5% earlier last week. Slightly more of the state is still seeing abnormally dry conditions, but not officially in drought conditions.

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July 24th Iowa drought monitor

This is a huge change from earlier this year when nearly two-thirds of state was seeing drought conditions. Back on March 4, 73% of Iowa was experiencing moderate or severe drought conditions after a very dry winter and start to spring.

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Comparing March and July drought levels in Iowa

With more storm chances across the state this weekend into next week, it's possible that we could finally eliminate drought conditions from the state. The last time Iowa was totally drought free was back in July 2024.

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