(Des Moines) While parts of Iowa received some much-needed precipitation late in the week, much more is needed, according to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor released on March 15.
The counties south of Interstate 80 in southwest Iowa fall under the abnormally dry category, west-central Iowa is under D1 or moderate drought conditions. The counties of Monona and Woodbury are the exceptions falling under the severe drought category.
The National Climate Prediction Center’s summer forecast is a cause for some concern for western Iowa. Forecasters expect the current La Nina will last well into the summer—which may not be good news.
The latest map from the U-S Drought Monitor on March 15 showed 16-counties in south-central Iowa considered under normal moisture conditions.
