Despite multiple rainfall events through October, there was not much change to overall drought severity. Monthly rainfall totals of 1 to 4 inches ranged from slightly below normal in Mitchell, Howard, Floyd, and Chickasaw counties to slightly above normal in Winneshiek, Fayette, Clayton, and Allamakee counties. The drought improved slightly in far northeast Iowa from extreme (D3) to severe (D2) by the end of October. Elsewhere, while ongoing below normal soil moisture became 10 to 20 percent above normal through the middle of the month, the long-standing drier than normal conditions resulted in extreme drought (D3) persisting. From the start of June through September, near 10 inches of total rainfall was 6 to 10 inches below normal.

Drought in HOWARD, IOWA
From 01-OCT-23 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-23 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Long-standing drier than normal conditions, comprised of 6 consecutive weeks of at least severe drought (D2), resulted in continuation of extreme drought (D3) across Howard County through October. While monthly rainfall totals near 2 inches were only an inch below normal, the long standing deficit resulted in the extreme drought (D3) persisting. The ongoing rainfall deficit from initial severe drought (D2) issuance on August 15th to October 1st was 2 to 4 inches below normal.

Drought in MITCHELL, IOWA
From 01-OCT-23 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-23 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Long-standing drier than normal conditions, comprised of 8 consecutive weeks of at least severe drought (D2), resulted in continuation of extreme drought (D3) across Mitchell County through October. While monthly rainfall totals were only an inch below normal, the long standing deficit resulted in the extreme drought (D3) persisting. The ongoing rainfall deficit from initial severe drought (D2) issuance on August 1st to the start of October was 3 to 5 inches below normal.

Drought in WINNESHIEK, IOWA
From 01-OCT-23 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-23 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Long-standing drier than normal conditions, comprised of 8 consecutive weeks of at least severe drought (D2), resulted in continuation of extreme drought (D3) across Winneshiek County through October. While monthly rainfall totals were up to an inch above normal, the long standing deficit resulted in the extreme drought (D3) persisting. The ongoing rainfall deficit from initial severe drought (D2) issuance on August 1st to the start of October was up to 4 inches below normal.

Drought in ALLAMAKEE, IOWA
From 01-OCT-23 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-23 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Long-standing drier than normal conditions, comprised of 15 weeks of at least severe drought (D2), slightly eased in severity for Allamakee County through October. Several storms provided near normal monthly rainfall totals, easing initial extreme drought (D3) to severe drought (D2) for most of the county. Continuation of the severe drought (D2) was a result of the ongoing rainfall deficit near 6 inches from initial severe drought (D2) issuance on June 20th to the start of October.

Drought in CHICKASAW, IOWA
From 01-OCT-23 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-23 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Long-standing drier than normal conditions, comprised of 8 consecutive weeks of at least severe drought (D2), resulted in continual extreme drought (D3) across Chickasaw County through October. Several storms provided monthly rainfall totals near 2 inches, up to an inch below normal. Besides a temporary alleviation of severe drought (D2) during July, the ongoing rainfall deficit from initial severe drought (D2) issuance on June 20th to the start of October was approximately 4 inches.

Drought in CLAYTON, IOWA
From 01-OCT-23 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-23 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Long-standing drier than normal conditions, comprised of 8 consecutive weeks of at least severe drought (D2), resulted in continuation of extreme drought (D3) across much of Clayton County through October. While several storms resulted in above normal monthly rainfall totals, the long standing deficit resulted in the extreme drought (D3) persisting. Besides a temporary alleviation of severe drought (D2) during July, the ongoing rainfall deficit from original severe drought (D2) issuance on June 20th to October 1st was 4 to 8 inches.

Drought in FAYETTE, IOWA
From 01-OCT-23 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-23 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Long-standing drier than normal conditions, comprised of 8 consecutive weeks of at least severe drought (D2), resulted in continuation of extreme drought (D3) across Fayette County through October. While several storms resulted in above normal monthly rainfall totals, the long standing deficit resulted in the extreme drought (D3) persisting. Besides a temporary alleviation of severe drought (D2) during July, the ongoing rainfall deficit from initial severe drought (D2) issuance on June 20th to the start of October neared 6 inches.

Drought in FLOYD, IOWA
From 01-OCT-23 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-23 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Long-standing drier than normal conditions, comprised of 8 consecutive weeks of at least severe drought (D2), continued the extreme drought (D3) across Floyd County through October. While monthly rainfall totals of 2 to 3 inches were only an inch below normal, the long standing deficit resulted in the extreme drought (D3) persisting. Besides a temporary alleviation of severe drought (D2) in July, the ongoing rainfall deficit since original severe drought (D2) issuance on June 20th was 6 to 8 inches below normal.