Des Moines, Iowa — All of the counties across the northern third of Iowa wrapped up the month as the 10th driest September on record, which is significant given that’s over one-and-a-half centuries of record keeping.
Most of that region was two-and-a-half to three-and-a-half inches below normal for rainfall. State climatologist Justin Glisan says it’s no surprise the summer ended up being extremely dry overall.
The statewide average temperature for September was 65-degrees, which is about one-and-a-half degrees warmer than normal. He says the summer overall wrapped up just slightly warmer than normal, too.
He notes Iowa is heading into October in much the same condition as last year, following an exceptionally dry summer.
While we can rejoice that there have been relatively few tornadoes in Iowa this year, and even few severe storms, but that carries a dual result.
Iowa is two-and-a-half years into the drought now and Glisan says if we go back to early 2020, some areas of northwest Iowa have a significant precipitation deficit of 15- to 25-inches below normal for rainfall.
