Drought in Allamakee, Iowa

Severe (D2) drought persisted across all of Allamakee County through November. The combination of total monthly precipitation under 0.2 inches, more than 2 inches below normal in spots, and several days of anomalously warm temperatures resulted in 20 to 30% below normal topsoil moisture.

Severe (D2) and extreme (D3) drought conditions at the start of November remained constant across northeast Iowa through November from long-standing abnormally dry conditions. While the previous month of October provided near to slightly above normal rainfall amounts, total rainfall near 20 inches from April 1 to October 31st was 9 to 12 inches below normal. During November, only 1 to 3 days of measurable precipitation provided 0.1 to 0.5 inches total rainfall, near 2 inches below the monthly normal. While the growing season was all but over, multiple days of above normal temperatures, 10 to 20 degrees above normal, inhibited the ground from freezing. The drought remained unchanged through November as county-encompassing extreme drought (D3) extended from Mitchell and Floyd counties eastward to Winneshiek and Fayette counties. Widespread severe drought (D2) continued in Allamakee and Clayton counties with areas of extreme drought (D3).