Washington, DC — Pocahontas and Buena Vista Counties went backwards in the weekly update of the U.S.D.A. Drought Monitor. They join most of the rest of the KICD Broadcast area in the “Abnormally Dry” category after several weeks being ranked “normal.”

Eastern portions of Emmet and Palo Alto Counties and the Southwest third of Cherokee County are in the D-1 “Moderate Drought” category after missing the rains that have fallen elsewhere in the state.

64 percent of Iowa is now Drought free, compared to 70 percent one week ago. 22 percent is now abnormally dry, up from 19; and 14 percent is suffering moderate drought up from 11.