Drought — Adams, Iowa

2003-08-01 to 2003-08-31 · Adams, Iowa

Wider weather episode

Dry weather settled in over Iowa during the month. The last widespread rain occurred on 09 July. With the increasingly dry conditions became a primary concern as the month progressed. An extended period of heat and humidity from the 15th to 25th saw highs into the 90s to over 100 degrees F. in some locations. By month's end drought indices had worsened to severe to extreme drought across south central Iowa and at least moderate drought over the remainder of the HSA. Waterloo had its driest August on record, Des Moines its 3rd driest and Ottumwa its 8th driest. A cold front brought only a brief respite from the intense heat, as temperatures rebounded into the 90s to near 100 degrees F. on the 24-26th. Des Moines Airport reached the century mark for the first time since July 29, 1999, reaching 100 F. on the 24th and 101 F. on the 25th. This was followed by a slow cool down as several pushes of cooler air traversed the state. Unfortunately there was only widely scattered convection across the HSA on the 27th and 28th, providing little significant drought relief. Light to moderate rainfall on the 31st fell across primarily the southern one half of the HSA, with the heaviest amounts in the southeast. The end of the month saw numerous records approached or established for an all-time record dry August. At Waterloo the 0.08" broke the previous dry August record of 0.37" set in 1955, while Des Moines had it's 3rd driest August ever with 0.31" (driest 0.14" in 1909). Many stations had from 10 to 25 percent of normal rainfall. The drought in south central Iowa as shown by the Palmer Drought Index reached the Extreme category (-4.09) for the first time in this event by August 30th. Statewide NWS Cooperative station data compiled by the Iowa State Climatologist's office showed August temperatures averaged 74.3 F. or 3.0 degrees above the 30-year (1971-2000) mean, ranking as the 18th warmest in 131 years. Precipitation statewide was 0.96" or 3.23" below than normal, ranking as the driest August on record. For the summer as a whole (June-August) it was the 65th warmest (72.0 F. or 0.4 degrees above normal) and the 18th driest (9.55" or 1.93" below normal). The dry conditions caused deterioration in the states crops. Estimates place yield reductions of about 10% on the corn crop, or a loss of about $210 million. Losses on the soybean crop were around 30%, or a loss of about $435 million.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5329795. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.