(Des Moines) The U.S. Drought Monitor released this week shows improvement, particularly in southern and southeast Iowa. Allan Curtis, Meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Des Moines, says the recent rains and snowfall events are starting to appear.
Curtis says the benefits of the snowpack in the northern part of the state depend on how it melts this spring.
The drought index shows improvement in several counties in southwest Iowa from moderate drought to abnormally dry. Cass County is now under the abnormally dry rating, along with Guthrie, most of Adair, parts of Audubon, Shelby, Pottawattamie, Montgomery, Adams, Mills, and Page counties.
Allan Curtis says the forecast over the next couple of weeks shows chances of rain, which could continue to ease the drought conditions.
