(Des Moines) Tim Hall, a hydrologist with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, reported that the recent rains over the past week have improved one category of water quality across three-quarters of the state. Hall is optimistic that drought conditions will continue to improve. Precipitation forecasts from the National Weather Service’s Climate Prediction Center indicate a likelihood of above-normal rainfall in the upcoming month. If the outlook holds, Iowa should continue improving conditions in November. With a signal of wetter conditions forecast for the rest of November.
Hall says the thing that works in our favor this time of year is that water demand is dropping. Seasonal water demand, whether for livestock, agriculture production, or human consumption, tends to drop in the fall. Precipitation amounts drop as well, with average.
Hall says stream flows are improving in response to the recent rainfall. Despite the record dry spell in September and October, precipitation amounts across the state remain above average because of the heavy rains this past spring.
