OTTUMWA —
Southeast Iowa showed little change in the drought conditions in the past week, though rain continued to fall on several days.
Most of southeast Iowa is in the severe drought category, with the nortwestern two-thirds of Marion County and the nortwestern tip of Mahaska County lingering in extreme drought. That's unchanged from the previous week.
Statewide, there are encouraging signs. The area in northwestern Iowa under exceptional drought, the highest category reported by the U.S. Drought Monitor, remained unchanged for the fourth consecutive week. Southwest Iowa saw the biggest improvement compared to last week, with significant improvement in five counties.
The past two weeks have seen significant rain in southeast Iowa. Ottumwa's official measurements show 4.17 inches of rain. Not only is that a sustained period with regular precipitation, it's more than the 2.82 inches of rain the area usually sees in October.
Knoxville's situation is similar. The 3.26 inches of rain so far this month, mostly in the past two weeks, is higher than the October average.
Data released earlier in the week by the U.S. Department of Agriculture shows the rain is helping to recharge soil moisture, a critical consideration as Iowa moves toward winter's freeze. Once the ground freezes, little if any moisture will soak in, leaving deficits to be made up with spring rains.
CNHI/Southeast Iowa
Related Photos
Discussion
Drought unchanged in southeast Iowa
- CNHI/Southeast Iowa
-
-
Kebabs: Health kick on a stick
Grilling is a simple way to feed your family well this summer. Start with a lean meat and a healthful marinade and then allow the grill to strip away additional fat for a heart-healthy and waist-friendly final result. Plus, grilling caramelizes the natural sugars in foods, which adds flavor without additional calories and fat.
-
Boy Scouts: Yes to gay youths, no to adults
The Boy Scouts of America on Thursday ended its ban on openly gay youths but maintained a prohibition on gay adult leaders, a decision framed as a compromise but one that could lead to litigation and thousands of defections from one of America's largest youth organizations.
-
Rain for Memorial Day weekend, but not a washout
Forecasters say this weekend will see good chances of rain, but they don't expect a complete washout since the highest chance of storms is in the overnight and early morning hours.
-
Expert: Schools need shelters
Ninety-four percent of Oklahoma schools do not have tornado shelters, according to Gov. Mary Fallin, even though at least one weather expert says they should be standard. With two Moore schools destroyed in Monday’s EF-5 tornado — and ...
-
Twitter introduces website security tool after AP account hacked
Twitter is adding a new security tool to its website, making it harder for outsiders to gain access to accounts, a month after a false posting triggered a stock-market decline.
-
Siblings withstand storm in fridge
Brother and sister co-owners of a Chinese takeout restaurant huddled inside a refrigerator to survive Monday’s deadly tornado that claimed 24 lives.
-
Pursuit that began in Marion County ends in Wayne County
CORYDON — A pursuit that began in Marion County Tuesday evening ended in Wayne County Tuesday night. The two-hour, high speed chase that went through several counties, with an alleged short stint in Missouri as well, involved several agencies with a
-
Mom delivered baby as tornado struck
Shayla Taylor was so far along in labor that her nurses at Moore Medical Center decided not to move her when Monday's tornado hit. They waited out the storm in an operating room, where the wall disappeared as the tornado hit the building.
-
Stabbing trial pushed back
OTTUMWA -- The trial of an Ottumwa man accused of stabbing another man to death has been pushed back. Twenty-year-old Brandon Seim was charged in November 2011, when he was 18, with the stabbing death of Andy Madren, 34. When officers arrived at the
-
Offering a few helping hands
Two area women formed a business around the idea that people who have lost loved ones may need assistance in getting estates squared away.
- More CNHI/Southeast Iowa Headlines
-
Raw: Train Derails After Overpass Collapse
Raw: Rescues From San Antonio Flooding
Raw: French Soldier Stabbed in Throat Near Paris
Mayor: Person Killed in San Antonio Flooding
Raw: Apple 1 Computer Sells for More Than $650k
Hagel Urges Cadets to End Scourge of Sex Assault
Raw: Gay Rights Activists March in Ukraine
Bus Fire Kills 16 Children, Teacher in Pakistan
Raw: Pakistan Election Results Protested
Raw: Trucker Bumps I-5 Bridge Before Collapse
Raw: Texas Deputy Shot by Colo. Suspect Honored
Major Detours Following Wash. Bridge Collapse
American Held in Grisly Czech Murders
Raw: Jersey Shore Reopens for Summer
UK-bound Pakistan Plane Diverted, 2 Men Arrested
