Temperatures were up and down as well. February, July and November 2014 ranked among the top ten coldest for those months in the historical record, while December was the only month of the year significantly above normal in average temperature.
Shallow groundwater improved to normal conditions statewide by the end of June. Yet northwest Iowa was left in abnormally dry conditions the end December, hoping for rainfall in the coming spring to recharge alluvial aquifers to prevent drought conditions from worsening.
For a thorough review of Iowa’s water resource trends, go to www.iowadnr.gov/watersummaryupdate.
The report is prepared by the technical staff from the 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.
