USWaterLevels

🌵 Iowa Drought Monitor

Current drought conditions and weekly trends for Iowa. Data sourced from NOAA / US Drought Monitor.

Live Data • Last updated: May 19, 2026
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D1 Dominant

Iowa is in Moderate Drought

Dominant drought category as of May 19, 2026

Drought Category Breakdown

Percentage of Iowa's land area in each drought category.

75%
25%
No Drought
75.1%
D0 — Abnormally Dry
24.9%
D1 — Moderate Drought
2.3%
D2 — Severe Drought
0.1%
D3 — Extreme Drought
0.0%
D4 — Exceptional Drought
0.0%

📋 Drought Impact Assessment

Currently, 75.14% of Iowa's land area is free from drought conditions, while 24.86% is categorized as Abnormally Dry. Moderate Drought (D1) affects 2.3% of the state, with a total of 2.4% of the area experiencing D1 or worse conditions.

Moderate Drought (D1) can impact water availability across various sectors in Iowa. Agriculture may face challenges due to reduced soil moisture, potentially affecting crop yields. Municipal water supplies could also be strained, especially in areas relying on surface water sources. Additionally, river flows may decrease, impacting recreational activities such as fishing and boating, which rely on adequate water levels.