The latest Water Summary Update shows Iowa ended the year on a good note. However, the state still recorded its third consecutive year of drought conditions. Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Hydrology Resources Coordinator Tim Hall says, “The above-normal moisture in the last months of 2022 is good news, but the deficits for the year are still significant. We need more moisture throughout the winter and spring months to make a significant impact on drought conditions in Iowa.” Overall, the state ended 2022 with an approximately eight-inch precipitation deficit. As Hall said, conditions are looking up. The state’s December average precipitation measured 1.73 inches, about a half-inch above normal. January is generally the driest month of the year, but the state recorded nearly an entire month’s worth in the first week alone. The monthly Watery Summary Update is prepared by staff from the Iowa DNR, the Iowa Department of Agriculture, the Iowa Institute of Hydraulic Research, the U.S. Geological Survey, and Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management. A link to the full December 2022 report is included below.
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