Drought — Clayton, Iowa

2024-04-01 to 2024-04-30 · Clayton, Iowa

Event narrative

Slightly above normal monthly rainfall totals alleviated severe (D2) drought for some of Clayton County through April.

Wider weather episode

Long standing abnormally dry conditions were slightly alleviated in northeast Iowa through April. Besides a single week in July 2023, severe (D2) to extreme (D3) drought had been affecting counties in northeast Iowa since June 6, 2023. From the beginning of June 2023 to April onset, total liquid precipitation of 15 to 20 was more than 9 below normal over the 10 month time period. While 3 to 5 of total monthly precipitation was near normal, several days of heavier liquid precipitation above 0.25 sufficiently saturated soils through April resulting in slight reduction of severe (D2) and extreme (D3) drought conditions. The extreme (D3) drought conditions that affected Howard, Mitchell, and Floyd counties improved to severe (D2) drought while the extreme (D3) drought affecting Fayette and Chickasaw counties retreated slightly south. In far northeast Iowa along the Iowa and Minnesota border, severe drought receded southwest, relieving its hold on nearly all of Winneshiek and Allamakee counties.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1169239. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.