Over half of the topsoil and subsoil in southeast Iowa is very short on moisture.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, this weeks’ measurements put southeast Iowa’s topsoil moisture levels at 57% very short, 32% short, and 11% adequate. Locally, subsoil moisture is rated at 55% very short, 28% short, and 17% adequate. Currently, the region of the state with the highest percentage of subsoil moisture rated at very short is southeast Iowa. At this time last year 82% of Iowa’s topsoil moisture was at adequate levels and subsoil moisture was at 81% adequate.

State climatologist Harry Hillaker states preliminary data suggests precipitation in Iowa averaged 2.89 inches or 1.61 inches less than normal. Only 2012 and 2013 brought less rainfall in July to Iowa in the past 25 years.