Washington, DC (Northwest Iowa Now) — Just over 43 percent of Iowa is now considered abnormally dry, up from just under 38 percent in last week’s USDA Drought Monitor. Two weeks ago, it was less than four percent. The difference was nearly all in Northwest Iowa. Cherokee County is nearly all considered abnormally dry now, and the Southwest half of O’Brien County remains drought free. All seven other counties in the broadcast area remain in the category.