The share of Iowa experiencing drought or abnormal dryness fell by nearly 10 percentage points week over week, and even heavier rainfall has arrived since the latest report, signaling potential improvement.
The U.S. Drought Monitor offers a state-by-state tracking of drought conditions nationwide. New maps and forecasts are released each Thursday. What are the current drought conditions in Iowa?
U.S. Drought Monitor map: How much of Iowa is in a drought?
The latest Drought Monitor report, released on Aug. 13, showed about 37% of Iowa experiencing some form of drought or abnormal dryness. The previous report, released on Aug. 6, showed 45% of the state was experiencing some form of dryness.
The most recent report reflects conditions as of 8 a.m. Aug. 11. Here is the breakdown of current drought conditions in Iowa:
The share of Iowa land experiencing abnormal dryness fell 6 percentage points since the Aug. 6 report, while moderate drought declined by 4 points. However, the area experiencing extreme drought increased by nearly 3 percentage points, with the increase concentrated in western Iowa.
Current conditions are worse than they were a year ago, when 100% of the state was drought-free, according to the Drought Monitor report from Aug. 12, 2025.
Current U.S. drought conditions
About 74% of the U.S. is experiencing some level of drought or abnormal dryness, up 3 percentage points from the previous week. Drought conditions are less severe across parts of the Midwest and Northeast.
Iowa Drought Monitor tracks conditions weekly
The U.S. Drought Monitor offers a state-by-state tracking of drought conditions nationwide.
The intensity levels range from abnormally dry, or D0, to exceptional drought, or D4.
Typically with D0 conditions, corn can show drought stress. Pond levels start to decline under moderate drought conditions and soybeans abort pods, according to the Drought Monitor. The Drought Monitor also has a look-back chart that compares drought conditions from 3 months ago up to 1 year ago.
Cooper Worth is a service/trending reporter for the Des Moines Register. Reach him at cworth@gannett.com or follow him on X @CooperAWorth.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Drought continues to ease in Iowa. See where dry conditions linger.
Reporting by Cooper Worth, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
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By Cooper Worth, Des Moines Register | USA TODAY Network
