Drought Returns to Northeast Iowa

Drought has returned to several local counties. 

The latest Iowa Drought Monitor shows moderate drought conditions have returned to about four and a half percent of the state, with the rest of Iowa rated as abnormally dry. 

All of Clayton County and most of Fayette County is in moderate drought, along with the northern tip of Dubuque County and southern areas of Winneshiek and Allamakee Counties. Just over half of Fremont County in southwest Iowa is also considered to be in moderate drought, along with five counties in the northeast corner of the state. 

Through Wednesday, rainfall in Iowa was about four percent of what’s normal for September. If the dry weather persists, this month would rank as the second driest September in Iowa since weather records have been kept. 

Some areas of the state received rain and storms on Thursday, with more chances forecast this weekend into early next week.