Dry year ends on wet note

Last year was the second dry year in a row for Iowa.

Over the previous 24 months, parts of central and west central Iowa received a foot less than normal moisture. Both streamflow and groundwater conditions were of concern throughout much of 2021, but the third-wettest October on record helped to end the year with near normal conditions.

"Looking back on 2021, the wet October we experienced in Iowa really helped set us up for better spring conditions," said Tim Hall, DNR's coordinator of hydrology resources. "We would have much more concern for spring 2022 conditions without those October rain...