Drought — Mitchell, Iowa

2023-11-01 to 2023-11-30 · Mitchell, Iowa

Event narrative

Extreme (D3) drought persisted across all of Mitchell County through November. The combination of total monthly precipitation near 0.25 inches, 2 inches below normal, and several days of anomalously warm temperatures resulted in 40 to 50% below normal topsoil moisture.

Wider weather episode

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).

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1148601. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.