Even with the recent rain and snow, much of Iowa’s still far short of precipitation for the year and we’re heading into the drier, colder seasons with little chance of replenishing soil moisture levels before spring. Meteorologist Dennis Todey, who heads the U-S-D-A’s Midwest Climate Hub in Ames, says the expected weather patterns don’t look promising for significant rainfall or snowfall, noting, August of 2020 was the driest in Iowa in 148 years.

The latest drought monitor shows very dry conditions overall but extreme eastern Iowa.