Iowa experienced above-average rainfall in July, continuing the trend of wet conditions seen in June, according to the latest Water Summary Update. Statewide precipitation averaged 5.40 inches, 1.23 inches above normal, though rainfall varied significantly across the state. Pella saw nearly 14 inches of rain in central Iowa, while Rock Rapids in northwest Iowa received less than an inch. Over the past 10 months, Iowa has accumulated more than 30 inches of rain, nearly four inches above the norm. The average statewide temperature for July was 72.4 degrees, slightly below normal. Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Hydrology Resources Coordinator Tim Hall says, “July is normally a fairly wet month in Iowa, so to finish above normal means we have continued to get needed moisture to replenish what was missed during the last four years of drought. If we continue to see normal to above normal rainfall for the rest of the summer and then into the fall months, our hydrologic resources should be in great shape this year.” According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, Iowa remains almost entirely drought-free, with only a small area in southwest Iowa showing signs of abnormal dryness. The Water Summary Update is prepared monthly by technical staff from Iowa DNR, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, IIHR—Hydroscience and Engineering, and the U.S. Geological Survey, in collaboration with the Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Department. A link to the full report is available below.
______
