Drought in Iowa

Events

2,602

Deaths

0

Injuries

0

Damage

$6.0 billion

• Drought in Iowa, July 1 to 31, 2012$2.4 billion · 51 eventsVery warm and dry weather that began in the spring continued into the summer. Temperatures warmed sharply the last few days of June. The heat persisted into July. Temperatures for the month of July were among the warmest on record.
• Drought in Iowa, August 1 to 31, 2013$945 million · 45 eventsSerious drought conditions gripped the state through the summer months. Initial sub-soil moisture was good at the beginning of the growing season. The recharged soil was sufficient to maintain the crops through a good part of the summer.
• Drought in Iowa, August 1 to 31, 2003$645 million · 51 eventsDry 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.
• Drought in Iowa, August 1 to 23, 2001$579 million · 51 eventsIn what became a rather tough growing season, drought developed in Iowa during the month of July, and became serious in August. During the early part of the growing season, excessive rainfall caused significant planting delays across the state.
• Drought in Iowa, August 1 to 31, 2012$312 million · 51 eventsDrought conditions that began in late June continued through July and into August. Very warm and dry weather that began in the spring continued through the summer. Temperatures warmed sharply the last few days of June. The heat persisted into August.
• Drought in Iowa, August 1 to 31, 2003$312 million · 21 eventsDry conditions that began in September 2002 and continued through 2003, manifested into a moderate to severe drought at the start of August 2003 which is a crucial time for soybean development and corn in filling out the ears with large kernels.
• Drought in Iowa, September 1 to 6, 2000$161 million · 32 eventsDrought conditions that began the previous month became acute during the first part of September, especially during the first three days of the month. Temperatures soared to between 95 and 105 over the south half of the state.
• Drought in Iowa, August 14 to 31, 2000$150 million · 32 eventsThe entire summer was nip and tuck with precipitation because of the dry conditions that were in place during the beginning of the growing season. Timely rainfall during the end of May into the first part of July helped the states crops get off to a good start.
• Drought in Iowa, July 1 to 31, 2005$155 million · 20 eventsThe drought that began back in June 2005 continued through July and into August 2005 and spread into Eastern Iowa and Northeast Missouri.
• Drought in Iowa, July 20 to 30, 1999$110 million · 24 eventsThe most intense hot and dry weather to affect Iowa in the last four years occurred during the last half of July. A large sub-tropical ridge of high pressure developed over the central U.S. as the drought that was widespread over the southern and eastern U.S. expanded northwest.
• Drought in Iowa, August 1 to 31, 2005$43 million · 20 eventsThe 2005 drought that started back in June continued through the month of August 2005 and into September 2005. Severe to extreme drought continued across the northern half of Illinois, eastern third of Iowa, and northeast Missouri.
• Drought in Iowa, October 1 to 31, 2023$66 million · 8 eventsPrecipitation was between 175 percent and 300 percent of normal across northwest Iowa during October.
• Drought in Iowa, July 1 to 31, 2022$30 million · 8 eventsNear to slightly above-normal temperatures along with below-normal precipitation led to stagnation or slight worsening of severe to extreme drought conditions across northwest Iowa.
• Drought in Iowa, August 1 to 31, 2022$25 million · 8 eventsWhile temperatures remained largely near normal during August, precipitation continued to be as much as 50 percent below normal.
• Drought in Iowa, September 1 to 30, 2022$9.2 million · 8 eventsA persistence of above normal temperatures and minimal precipitation maintained or worsened long-term drought conditions.
• Drought in Iowa, August 1 to 31, 2020$7.7 million · 7 eventsPrecipitation of 25 to 50 percent of normal along with above normal temperatures led to worsening of drought conditions across northwest Iowa.
• Drought in Iowa, June 1 to 30, 2022$7.6 million · 2 eventsWell-below normal precipitation and above-normal temperatures contributed to worsening drought conditions.
• Drought in Iowa, July 28 to 31, 2020$6.0 million · 6 eventsRainfall of 25 to 50 percent of normal during July, following 50 to 75 percent of normal during June led to the development of severe short-term drought conditions over much of northwest Iowa.
• Drought in Iowa, October 18 to 31, 2022$6.1 million · 2 eventsWhile temperatures were much closer to normal in October, precipitation was generally less than 25 percent of normal, leading to the maintenance of long-term drought conditions.
• Drought in Iowa, May 1 to 31, 2023$3.8 million · 10 eventsDespite temperatures which averaged 2 to 5 degrees above normal during May, near to somewhat above normal precipitation alleviated, at least to a small degree, drought conditions.
• Drought in Iowa, July 1 to 31, 2021$3.5 million · 9 eventsTemperatures and precipitation averaged fairly close to normal during July, although slightly above normal precipitation (100-150 percent of normal) in the far northwest allowed for easing of drought conditions.
• Drought in Iowa, June 1 to 30, 2021$3.1 million · 9 eventsTemperatures averaged 4 to 6 degrees above normal, and precipitation varied between 25 and 75 percent of normal across Northwest Iowa during June. This led to no improvement in drought status.
• Drought in Iowa, August 25 to 31, 2020$3.8 million · 2 eventsRainfall of 25 to 50 percent of normal during July and August with above normal temperatures led to the development of severe short-term drought conditions over much of northwest Iowa.
• Drought in Iowa, August 1 to 31, 2021$2.1 million · 9 eventsTemperatures were slightly above normal during the month. The spatial and temporal distribution of rainfall, with more widespread heavier amounts toward the end of the month, defined drought trends. Overall, conditions improved by month's end for many locations.
• Drought in Iowa, June 14 to 30, 2022$2.1 million · 4 eventsWell-below normal precipitation and above-normal temperatures contributed to worsening drought conditions.

Drought everywhereEvery kind of event in Iowa

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.