IARN — The U.S. Drought Monitor on Thursday showed more improvement week-to-week for Iowa.
The biggest improvement for the state came within the D2 Severe Drought category. Iowa’s severe drought coverage decreased from 31.49 percent last week to 26.92 percent this week. Approximately 37 counties in the central and northern portions of the state are in the D2 zone. Meanwhile, things were mostly unchanged week-to-week for D1 Moderate Drought and D0 Abnormally Dry areas. The short-term Iowa forecast is calling for hot and dry weather over the next 7-10 days with temperatures in the low to mid 90s.
USDA Meteorologist Brad Rippey discusses the latest topsoil moisture condition ratings around the country.
“Looking at USDA NASS topsoil moisture for the week ending July 18th, just 11% surplus nationally,” said Rippey. “That is a 2-point increase from last week. Meanwhile, we see very short to short ratings at 39%. That is identical to what we saw July 18th. We do see some wetness cropping up in parts of the Southern and Eastern Corn Belt. That actually took a bit of a hit on some of the crop conditions in Ohio, which leads the Midwest at 42% surplus. Some of that wetness extends to the south in the Gulf Coast states of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida – along with Georgia – coming in over 20% surplus. We’ve seen some wetness developing in parts of the northeast as well. Then on the dry side, that 39% number nationally is being driven of course by the drought in the West and Northern Plains and Upper Midwest. Washington state coming in at the top of topsoil moisture very short to short at 98%. Right behind is Montana at 97% and then Utah at 95%.”
The latest U.S. Drought Monitor can be viewed here.
