Not much has changed recently in the U.S. Drought Monitor. It?s great that it?s not getting worse, but we need to start to make progress on those moisture deficits. Thankfully, Iowa State Climatologist Dr. Justin Glisan said that the warmer temperatures we?ve seen recently have thawed the soil profiles and allowed some of the melting snow to enter.
Unfortunately, the soil profiles haven?t completely thawed, and we haven?t seen a ton of significant moisture yet. That?s why we haven?t seen much change in Iowa?s drought status. Still, Glisan said we?ll take what we can get.
There was a lot of uncertainty leading up to the recent snowstorm that traveled through the Midwest. Glisan said there would be varying amounts of snow across the state, but that moisture will be appreciated.
Glisan added that this snow won?t form a snowpack and will likely melt down pretty quickly.
As we shift to more thunderstorm-driven precipitation, Glisan said February will be an important month for determining what spring planting will be like.
We?re also shifting from a La Nina weather pattern to ENSO-neutral. Glisan said we?ll have a better idea of what that will look like towards the end of this month.
For more information, visit iowaagriculture.gov/climatology-bureau.
