OTTUMWA —
Many southeast Iowa residents saw the first rain in over a month during the overnight hours. News this morning brings it back home just how dry it is.
The U.S. Drought Monitor released its weekly report Thursday morning and now places much of southeast and east-central Iowa in the extreme drought category. The report does not include the rain from July 25-26, which averaged around a half-inch in most areas.
Two swaths of the state are in extreme drought. All of Appanoose, Davis and Van Buren counties fall into that category, as do most of Monroe, Wapello and Jefferson counties.
A larger area bounded approximately by Des Moines in the west and running through the Quad Cities to the Mississippi River is also categorized as extreme drought. When combined, more than a quarter of the state is experiencing extreme drought.
Those areas of Iowa not considered to be experiencing extreme drought are under the severe drought category.
This week's rains will help, but they fall far short of breaking the drought. Experts say this year's drought is the worst in decades, with some comparing it to conditions as far back as the 1930s.
CNHI/SE Iowa
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