Iowa’s Downpour Helps With Severe Drought- Dubuque Gets 2 1/4 Inches!

After enduring the driest September on record with just 0.72 inches of rain—nearly three inches below the average—Eastern Iowa is finally seeing rain in abundance. Following a stretch of bone-dry conditions that intensified the region’s drought, a series of rainstorms has swept through, bringing much-needed moisture to parched soils and rivers. For cities like Dubuque, which recorded over two inches of rain within 72 hours, the relief has been significant, but it’s not without its challenges.

In a single day on Sunday, Dubuque received 2.26 inches of rain, setting a new rainfall record and surpassing the previous mark of 2.17 inches from 2003. However, with additional rain anticipated, especially in storm-prone eastern Iowa, local officials are urging residents to stay vigilant. Although the ground still has room to soak up plenty of moisture, flash flooding can always be an issue in low lying and high-water flow areas.

The National Weather Service (NWS) predicts a 90% chance of precipitation on Monday, with storms likely to roll in both in the morning and again in the afternoon. Wind gusts could reach up to 25 mph, creating difficult conditions on highways and rural roads alike. Thunderstorms could bring higher rainfall totals, further adding to the already impressive rain levels and raising concerns about localized flooding. Roads near rivers and in low-lying areas may be particularly vulnerable, with pooling water posing a risk to travelers.

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Tuesday’s forecast suggests additional rain, with scattered storms likely to impact visibility and road conditions, prompting travel advisories for those on the road. After Tuesday, however, eastern Iowa can look forward to a dry break: the rest of the week is expected to bring sunny skies, daytime highs in the upper 50s, and chilly nights with temperatures dipping into the high 30s.

Eastern Iowa’s rainfall totals for October are starkly different from the dry months that preceded them. With steady rains over the last week, many areas are now seeing totals of 4 to 5 inches, a noticeable improvement that should begin to ease the severe drought conditions across the state. According to our weather partners at KWWL, much of Eastern Iowa received between 1 and 3 inches in the last 48 hours alone, giving the land a long-awaited, and much needed soaking.

Local officials and weather services recommend closely monitoring weather updates, particularly with additional storms in the forecast. The much-needed rain may be just what Iowa needs to break the drought, but it can bring the challenge of flooded roads and slick travel conditions in its wake.