An expert on soil conditions says parts of Iowa are at risk of a “flash drought,” as conditions are very dry across the southeastern quarter of the state. Deborah Bathke, a climatologist at the National Drought Mitigation Center, says the portion of the state in the category of “abnormally dry” has almost doubled since the start of June.
Bathke says Iowa hasn’t been in the grips of severe or extreme drought since 2012.
In parts of southeast Iowa, some farmers report the hot, dry spell is already beginning to impact crops and crack the soil. Temperatures have been at least five degrees above normal, keeping conditions abnormally dry over the past few weeks, while precipitation in many areas is 10-percent below normal and worse. The driest part of the state is roughly from Interstate 80 to the south and from Interstate 35 to the east.
