DES MOINES — Dry weather tightened its grip on much of Iowa in May, with northern and eastern parts of the state seeing worsening conditions after a month of below-normal rainfall.
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources said in a June 4, 2026, Water Summary Update that roughly three-quarters of the state is now classified as abnormally dry or worse, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.
A drought watch remains in effect for northwest Iowa, where drought conditions continue. The DNR said recent rainfall eliminated the remaining pockets of severe drought in northwest Iowa, but dry conditions expanded across northern and eastern Iowa by the end of May.
Iowa’s preliminary statewide precipitation total for May was 2.78 inches, which was 2.06 inches below normal. Most national weather reporting stations in Iowa recorded rainfall deficits, with some of the driest conditions stretching across eastern Iowa.
The preliminary statewide average temperature for May was 60.9 degrees, about 1 degree above normal. The warmest conditions were felt across central and northern Iowa.
Despite the dry month, streamflow levels across Iowa’s river systems generally remained near typical seasonal levels, though some monitors reported below-normal flow. Soil moisture levels also trended downward in both the upper and lower soil profile because of the lack of recent rainfall.
The U.S. Drought Monitor shows about 3 percent of Iowa in moderate drought. The rest of the dry areas are classified as abnormally dry.
The National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center’s June outlook calls for warmer conditions in Iowa, with no clear signal for precipitation statewide. Looking farther ahead through August, the outlook shows no clear temperature signal for Iowa, but a chance for below-normal precipitation across the northwest half of the state.
“While rainfall successfully eliminated the severe drought pockets in northwest Iowa, a drought watch remains in place for the region. Meanwhile, dry conditions expanded across northern and eastern Iowa by the end of May,” said Jessica Reese McIntyre, DNR environmental specialist.
McIntyre said the seasonal outlook through August indicates the current dry areas will likely persist, with further drought development anticipated in northern and eastern Iowa.
The Water Summary Update is prepared by technical staff from the Iowa DNR, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, IIHR—Hydroscience and Engineering, and the U.S. Geological Survey, in collaboration with Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management.