Drought in Mitchell, Iowa

Near normal monthly rainfall totals alleviated extreme (D3) drought across southern Mitchell County through April but severe (D2) drought persisted countywide.

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.