(Des Moines) Drought conditions continue to improve across Iowa following recent rainfall.
The latest National Drought Monitor Map shows a significant reduction in drought conditions across western and northwestern Iowa. Rainfall over the past week has reduced moderate drought to just two small areas in northern and far western Iowa.
Near-drought conditions persist in the far northwest corner of the state, but much of Iowa has seen improvements in soil moisture and water conditions following recent precipitation.
Currently, 86 percent of Iowa is considered drought-free, according to the latest Drought Monitor report.
The improvement comes after several rounds of rain moved across the state, with some areas receiving substantial rainfall. The additional moisture has helped ease dry conditions, particularly in areas that had been experiencing moderate drought.
Despite the improvement, officials continue to monitor conditions because drought can return if rainfall decreases and temperatures remain elevated.
The latest map indicates that drought conditions are now limited to a relatively small portion of Iowa, marking a notable improvement from earlier this month.
