IOWA DROUGHT: Drought Map Shows Dry Conditions

A new USDA and National Weather Service prediction shows a widening drought in Iowa.

The new U.S. Drought Monitor Map was revealed Thursday morning.  It shows more counties in the moderate drought category. They’re the ones that are the  light orange color.

The yellow color means it’s abnormally dry in those counties.

Parts of three counties at the very tip of the state are in the severe drought mode.

And all this warm weather is taking a toll on Iowa crops.  The next USDA crop report will be released one week from Thursday.

Experts expects it to show a sharp decline in predicted yields from earlier reports.