On June 14, the National Weather Service said the Pacific Ocean near the equator had warmed enough to reach El Niño levels, and it was hoped that this change in weather patterns would eventually help Iowa emerge from a prolonged drought.
The drought in Iowa has intensified in recent weeks. The U.S. Drought Monitor recently reported that nearly all of the state is exceptionally dry, with 43 percent experiencing some degree of drought.
All in all, Iowa is drier than it was four months ago. But things may be changing.
State Agriculture Secretary Mike Naig said that while off-season temperatures have helped ease some of the moisture pressure on the soybean and corn crops, we are now in an “El Niño warning” and thankfully there is more chance of rain before the end of the month.
