DES MOINES — All of Iowa remains drought free, according to the National Drought Monitor, and the average stream flows for the state have returned to near normal levels.
In the first quarter of 2016, Iowa averaged 3.97 inches of precipitation, slightly drier than the 30-year normal, but was significantly wetter than in 2014 or 2015. Precipitation amounts generally were above normal across the northern one-third of the state and well below normal over east central, southeast and southwest Iowa. January was the driest of the three months over most of Iowa, while March accounted for 61 percent of the first quarter precipitation.
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 and the National Weather Service.