Washington, DC (northwestiowanow.com) — A great section of Iowa improved in the weekly update of the USDA Drought Monitor.

The approximate inch of rain in Northwest Iowa was NOT enough to move the needle. All of Osceola, O’Brien, Dickinson, and Emmet Counties; most of Cherokee and Clay Counties; and the Northwest half of Palo Alto County are still in D-2 Severe Drought. The remainder of the broadcast area is in D-1 Moderate Drought.

Large swaths of the state did improve. Most of Northeast Iowa improved from Severe to Moderate Drought in the last seven days, much of Southern Iowa went from Moderate Drought to Abnormally Dry. And six percent of the state is now considered to be drought free.

The Thursday morning drought updates are based on conditions as of the previous Tuesday evening.