Drought in Mitchell, Iowa

While slightly above normal total monthly precipitation of 2 to 2.5 resulted in improvement from extreme (D3) to severe (D2) drought in northern Mitchell County through March, long-standing abnormally dry conditions resulted in extreme (D3) drought persisting elsewhere in the south.

Ongoing abnormally dry conditions eased a bit through March in northeast Iowa. Since initial drought issuance on June 1st, 2023, total liquid precipitation through March neared 15, which was more than 9 below normal. As a result, widespread severe (D2) to extreme (D3) drought enveloped all of northeast Iowa at the onset of March. Volunteer observers report 7 to 10 days of measurable precipitation in March across northeast Iowa, resulting in total monthly liquid precipitation near 2. Most of this fell in a period of one week from March 21st to March 27th. Highest weekly storm totals reported by volunteer observers were 1.5 in New Hampton (Chickasaw County), 1.25 in Decorah (Winneshiek County), and 1.03 in Postville (Allamakee County). These near normal monthly precipitation totals resulted in the extreme (D3) drought area shrinking slightly, though all of northeast Iowa still remained under at least severe (D2) drought conditions by the end of March.