Long-standing abnormally dry conditions from April 2023 through December resulted in no changes to severe (D2) and extreme (D3) drought for northeast Iowa in December. From initial severe drought (D2) issuance in June 2023 to the onset of December, 10 to 15 of total rainfall was 8 to 14 below normal. December total rainfall was near 1 for most of northeast Iowa, outside of two select areas along and south of the Winneshiek and Allamakee county border where near 1.5 fell though the month. These higher amounts were near monthly normal while the rest of northeast Iowa was 0.5 to 1 below normal. Also, well above normal temperatures, 10 degrees above normal monthly average, perpetuated ongoing soil moisture concerns.

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

Severe (D2) to extreme drought (D3) persisted across Clayton County through December. While monthly total rainfall was near normal at 2, the long-standing abnormally dry conditions were 3 to 4 below normal.

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

Extreme (D3) drought persisted across Floyd County through December. Monthly total rainfall of 1 to 1.5 was 0.5 below normal. December exacerbated the long-standing abnormally dry conditions of 10 to 14 below normal since June 1st.

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

Extreme (D3) drought persisted across Mitchell County through December. Monthly total rainfall near 1 was slightly below normal, exacerbating the long-standing abnormally dry conditions of 10 to 14 below normal since June 1st.

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

Severe (D2) to extreme (D2) drought persisted across Winneshiek County through December. While monthly total rainfall near 1 was only slightly below normal, the long-standing abnormally dry conditions were 8 to 12 below normal.

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

Extreme (D3) drought persisted across all of Howard County through December. Monthly total rainfall near 0.5 was 1 below normal, exacerbating the long-standing deficit of 8 to 12  since June 1st.

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

Severe (D2) drought persisted across all of Allamakee County through December. While monthly total rainfall of 2 was at or slightly below normal, the long-standing abnormally dry conditions, near 10 below normal since June 1st, allowed severe (D2) drought to persist.

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

Extreme (D3) drought persisted across all of Chickasaw County through December. Monthly total rainfall of less than 1 was up to 1 below normal, exacerbating the long standing deficit of more than 10 since June 1st.

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

Extreme (D3) drought persisted across all of Fayette County through December. While monthly total rainfall was only slightly below normal at 1.5, the long-standing abnormally dry conditions of up to 5 below since June 1st allowed the extreme (D3) drought to persist.