Drought Worsens in Iowa, Northwest Section in Most Severe Category

By Adam Carros, Reporter

The leaves of corn stalks turn upward to collect more water when it comes, on a farm west of Center Point, Iowa, on Tuesday, July 11, 2012. Much of the midwest is in a moderate to severe drought. (Nikole Hanna/The Gazette-KCRG)

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By Liz Blood

Story Created: Sep 6, 2012 at 4:50 PM CDT

Story Updated: Sep 6, 2012 at 6:30 PM CDT

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - Drought conditions worsened this week, especially in northwest Iowa where part of the state is now in the most severe category of drought.

The USDA Drought Monitor released Thursday showed 62 percent of Iowa is experiencing severe drought conditions. About 2 percent of the state in northwest Iowa is now in the exceptional drought category, the most severe label used by the USDA.

Drought conditions in eastern Iowa stayed relatively unchanged despite some areas receiving several inches of rain first from the remnants of Hurricane Isaac and then from a line of storms Wednesday morning.

The remnants of Isaac did help drought-stricken Missouri and Arkansas by dumping several inches of rain. Sections of those states fell from exceptional drought conditions to severe drought conditions, two levels lower on the USDA scale.

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