Drought in Iowa, October 1 to 13, 2012

Name: Drought in Iowa, October 1 to 13, 2012
Start: 2012-10-01T00:00
End: 2012-10-13T23:59
Location: Iowa

October 1 to 13, 2012 · NWS DMX · 51 events in 51 counties and zones

Drought conditions that began in late June continued through the summer and into October. Very warm and dry weather that began in the spring continued through the summer.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 51 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 51

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS DMX wrote it up.

Drought conditions that began in late June continued through the summer and into October. Very warm and dry weather that began in the spring continued through the summer. Temperatures remained well above normal into August, but began to temper during the latter portion of the month. Temperatures cooled in October with the month averaging near to a little below normal. It was the first cooler than normal month in 13 months across the CWA. More widespread rainfall began by the middle of the month with a fairly widespread event on the 13th. The rapid deterioration of the corn and soybean crop that took place in July slowed as much of the damage had already occurred in July. No significant damage occurred in September in spite of the dry conditions and early freeze across much of the state on the 23rd. Harvest activities continued at a fast pace with nearly all activities complete by the middle of October. This was three to four weeks ahead of normal. Indications were that yields of the corn crop were around 140 bu/ac and 43.5 bu/ac for the bean crop. These values were about 20% and 15% below normal for corn and beans respectively. At the current price, the loss total was in excess of $2.6 billion. By late September, the USDA reported that Secretarial Primary Drought Designations had been listed for all 51 of the counties in the Des Moines CWA. The drought conditions continued through the month and into November as it will take many months to recharge the soil. No significant damage occurred in October and it is unlikely that water restrictions would occur before the spring, thus this will be the final entry unless conditions worsen.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Des Moines, IA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Sep 30, 10:58 PM CST, 1 hour 2 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Sep 30, 10:58 PM CST, 1 hour 2 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
1158 PM CDT SUN SEP 30 2012

.SHORT TERM /TONIGHT/...
UPPER LEVEL SHORT WAVE OVER MONTANA AND NORTH DAKOTA THIS AFTERNOON
WILL DIVE SOUTHEAST TOWARD IOWA OVERNIGHT. SFC BOUNDARY IS AHEAD OF
THE UPPER LEVEL WAVE AND HAS MOVED INTO THE EASTERN DAKOTAS. WEAK
HIGH PRESSURE WHICH REMAINS RIDGED THROUGH IOWA TODAY WILL GRADUAL
DEPART TO THE EAST TONIGHT. UPPER CLOSED LOW OVER THE SOUTHERN
PLAINS AND ASSOCIATED SFC LOW WILL BEGIN TO LIFT NORTH TOWARD THE
OHIO VALLEY DURING THIS TIME AND AND SLOW THE PROGRESSION OF THE
SYSTEMS TO THE NORTHWEST. THE WEAK SFC BOUNDARY WILL ENTER THE
WESTERN HALF OF IOWA BY 12Z HOWEVER THE COLD ADVECTION WITH THE
INITIAL PASSAGE WILL BE WEAK AND HAVE LIMITED IMPACT ON OVERNIGHT
LOWS. WINDS WILL SWITCH FROM THE NORTHWEST AND BECOME BREEZY BEHIND
THE FRONT. THE PRIMARY UPPER LEVEL SUPPORT WILL BE LAGGING THE
BOUNDARY AND NORTHWEST OF THE FORECAST AREA THROUGH 12Z AND HAVE
KEPT THE AREA DRY THOUGH A FEW ISOLATED SHOWERS COULD BE APPROACHING
THE FAR NORTHWEST LATE.

.LONG TERM /MONDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/...
THE WEAK BOUNDARY MENTIONED IN THE SHORT TERM WILL PUSH ACROSS THE
CWA DURING THE DAY MONDAY.  INITIALLY THE FORCING IS DECENT ACROSS
THE FAR WEST/NORTHWEST AND THIS DIMINISHES QUICKLY AS IT MOVES EAST
ACROSS THE CWA.  MOISTURE IS WOEFULLY LACKING BUT THE THINKING IS
THAT THE FORCING WILL OVERCOME THE SPARSE MOISTURE...WHICH LOOKED
BETTER IN SOUNDINGS TODAY THAN IT DID YESTERDAY...AT LEAST INITIALLY
FOR SOME MENTION OF LIGHT SHOWERS OR SPRINKLES.  THEN AS THE FORCING
WANES...SO WITH THE PRECIP KEEPING THE EASTERN CWA ESSENTIALLY
DRY...THOUGH A DROP OR TWO MAY BE SEEN ON A WINDSHIELD.

THE UPPER HIGH BEGINS TO REBUILD FOR TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY AS A
SURFACE LOW DEVELOPS OVER THE NORTHERN PLAINS.  A SOUTHERLY FLOW
WILL ESTABLISH ITSELF OVER THE UPPER MIDWEST AHEAD OF THIS FEATURE.
WEDNESDAY LOOKS POSITIVELY SUMMER LIKE WITH TEMPS BACK INTO THE 80S.
THE SPEED OF THE NEXT FRONT IS STILL IN QUESTION WITH THE GFS FASTER
THAN THE OTHER MODELS BUT IT WILL DEFINITELY BEGIN WEDNESDAY NIGHT
IN THE FAR NW AND MOVE ACROSS THE CWA THURSDAY.  THIS WILL MARK THE
END OF THE VERY WARM TEMPS FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE EXTENDED AS
HIGHS FALL INTO THE 50S.  SEVERAL WEAK SHORTWAVES WILL ALSO MOVE
THROUGH THE FLOW FRIDAY THROUGH SUNDAY BRINGING SPOTTY CHANCES FOR
LIGHT PRECIP.  THE TIMING OF THESE IS HARD TO DO AND THE MODELS VARY
IN THE GENERAL PATTERN BUT ONE WAVE LOOKS TO AFFECT THE AREA FRIDAY
NIGHT ACROSS THE SOUTH AND SATURDAY SOUTH AND EAST.  DUE TO
UNCERTAINTY I ONLY WENT WITH SLIGHT CHANCE POPS THROUGH THIS PERIOD.

&&

.AVIATION...01/06Z
VFR CONDITIONS WILL AGAIN PERSIST THROUGH THE PERIOD...HOWEVER
CURRENT CI CIGS WILL GRADUALLY LOWER TO MID CLOUDS.  WEAK PLAINS
FRONT ON DOORSTEP OF KFSD AT 04Z WILL PASS THROUGH TAF SITES
13-18Z.  MID CLOUD CIGS WILL DEVELOP BEHIND THE FRONTAL PASSAGE AND
THERE MAY BE A FEW PERIODS OF LIGHT SHOWERS OR SPRINKLES BUT NOT
SIGNIFICANT ENOUGH TO INCLUDE IN TAF AT THIS POINT.  EXPECT CURRENT
NE/SD/ND PRECIP TO WEAKEN WITH TIME.  WINDS BY MON WILL ALSO BE
STRONGER THAN PAST FEW DAYS...BECOMING SOMEWHAT GUSTY AFTER FRONTAL
PASSAGE.

&&

.DMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...NONE.

&&

SHORT TERM...DONAVON
LONG TERM...FAB
AVIATION...SMALL

Hazardous weather outlook, Sep 30, 3:46 AM CST, 20 hours 14 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
446 AM CDT SUN SEP 30 2012

IAZ004>007-015>017-023>028-033>039-044>050-057>062-070>075-081>086-
092>097-011100-
EMMET-KOSSUTH-WINNEBAGO-WORTH-PALO ALTO-HANCOCK-CERRO GORDO-
POCAHONTAS-HUMBOLDT-WRIGHT-FRANKLIN-BUTLER-BREMER-SAC-CALHOUN-
WEBSTER-HAMILTON-HARDIN-GRUNDY-BLACK HAWK-CRAWFORD-CARROLL-GREENE-
BOONE-STORY-MARSHALL-TAMA-AUDUBON-GUTHRIE-DALLAS-POLK-JASPER-
POWESHIEK-CASS-ADAIR-MADISON-WARREN-MARION-MAHASKA-ADAMS-UNION-
CLARKE-LUCAS-MONROE-WAPELLO-TAYLOR-RINGGOLD-DECATUR-WAYNE-APPANOOSE-
DAVIS-
446 AM CDT SUN SEP 30 2012

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL IOWA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED.

LEE

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

51 drought. Local standard time, as filed.

Drought, Adair

When: October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 13, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Adair forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 41.331, -94.471 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Adams

When: October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 13, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Adams forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 41.029, -94.699 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Appanoose

When: October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 13, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Appanoose forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 40.743, -92.869 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Audubon

When: October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 13, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Audubon forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 41.685, -94.906 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Black Hawk

When: October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 13, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Black Hawk forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 42.470, -92.309 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Boone

When: October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 13, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Boone forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 42.037, -93.932 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Bremer

When: October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 13, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Bremer forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 42.775, -92.318 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Butler

When: October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 13, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Butler forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 42.732, -92.790 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Calhoun

When: October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 13, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Calhoun forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 42.385, -94.640 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Carroll

When: October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 13, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Carroll forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 42.036, -94.861 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Cass

When: October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 13, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Cass forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 41.332, -94.928 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Cerro Gordo

When: October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 13, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Cerro Gordo forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 43.082, -93.261 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Clarke

When: October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 13, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Clarke forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 41.029, -93.785 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Crawford

When: October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 13, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Crawford forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 42.037, -95.382 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Dallas

When: October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 13, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Dallas forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 41.685, -94.040 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Davis

When: October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 13, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Davis forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 40.748, -92.410 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Decatur

When: October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 13, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Decatur forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 40.738, -93.786 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Emmet

When: October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 13, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Emmet forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 43.378, -94.678 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Franklin

When: October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 13, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Franklin forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 42.733, -93.262 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Greene

When: October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 13, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Greene forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 42.036, -94.397 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Grundy

When: October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 13, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Grundy forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 42.402, -92.791 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Guthrie

When: October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 13, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Guthrie forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 41.684, -94.501 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Hamilton

When: October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 13, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Hamilton forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 42.384, -93.707 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Hancock

When: October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 13, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Hancock forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 43.082, -93.734 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Hardin

When: October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 13, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Hardin forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 42.384, -93.240 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Humboldt

When: October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 13, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Humboldt forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 42.777, -94.207 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Jasper

When: October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 13, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Jasper forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 41.686, -93.054 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Kossuth

When: October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 13, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Kossuth forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 43.204, -94.207 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Lucas

When: October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 13, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Lucas forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 41.029, -93.328 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Madison

When: October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 13, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Madison forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 41.331, -94.016 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Mahaska

When: October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 13, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Mahaska forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 41.335, -92.641 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Marion

When: October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 13, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Marion forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 41.334, -93.099 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Marshall

When: October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 13, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Marshall forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 42.036, -92.999 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Monroe

When: October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 13, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Monroe forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 41.030, -92.869 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Palo Alto

When: October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 13, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Palo Alto forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 43.082, -94.678 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Pocahontas

When: October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 13, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Pocahontas forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 42.734, -94.679 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Polk

When: October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 13, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Polk forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 41.686, -93.573 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Poweshiek

When: October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 13, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Poweshiek forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 41.686, -92.531 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Ringgold

When: October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 13, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Ringgold forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 40.735, -94.244 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Sac

When: October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 13, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Sac forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 42.386, -95.105 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Story

When: October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 13, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Story forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 42.036, -93.465 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Tama

When: October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 13, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Tama forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 42.080, -92.532 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Taylor

When: October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 13, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Taylor forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 40.737, -94.696 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Union

When: October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 13, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Union forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 41.028, -94.242 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Wapello

When: October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 13, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Wapello forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 41.031, -92.409 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Warren

When: October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 13, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Warren forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 41.334, -93.561 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Wayne

When: October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 13, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Wayne forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 40.740, -93.327 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Webster

When: October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 13, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Webster forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 42.428, -94.182 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Winnebago

When: October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 13, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Winnebago forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 43.378, -93.734 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Worth

When: October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 13, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Worth forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 43.377, -93.261 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Wright

When: October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 13, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Wright forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 42.733, -93.735 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Drought: A drought reaching severe (D2) or worse on the US Drought Monitor, or with notable impacts.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Iowa in 2012 Every state in 2012 This day in weather history Warnings in Iowa, October 2012

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 412537, 412538, 412539, 412540, 412541, 412542, 412543, 412544, 412545, 412546, 412547, 412548, 412549, 412550, 412551, 412552, 412553, 412554, 412555, 412556, 412557, 412558, 412560, 412561, 412562, 412563, 412564, 412565, 412566, 412567, 412568, 412569, 412570, 412571, 412572, 412573, 412574, 412575, 412576, 412577, and more.