DES MOINES — Iowa’s Water Year, which covers Oct. 1, 2023 to Sept. 30, 2024, was the first with above-normal precipitation since 2019, and saw the end of the four year drought in Iowa, according to the latest Water Summary Update. However, a record breaking dry September is raising concerns for 2025.

Precipitation for the last water year was 36 inches, or 0.38 inches above normal, with increased rainfall numbers beginning in October 2023 through July of this year.

Since then, precipitation has dropped to below normal levels. September’s preliminary statewide precipitation was 0.72 inches, which is the driest September on record for the state. Statewide temperatures for the month came in at 67.0 degrees, 3.3 degrees above normal.

The U.S. Drought Monitor (USDM) shows nearly all of Iowa in abnormally dry conditions or drought conditions, with portions of Monona and Harrison counties in western Iowa showing severe drought. This is the first time since May that any area of the state has carried a severe drought designation.

“The record dry September has impacted conditions in Iowa, although the last year has been a good one. The four-year drought ended in June of this year, which is a reflection of the wetter than normal conditions that started in October of last year. The Iowa Drought Plan rates statewide drought conditions as normal, although after the month of September indicators show the potential for worsening conditions. Monthly rainfall normally drops during the fall months, so it is very important that we get normal precipitation through the fall and into the winter months,” said Tim Hall, the DNR’s Hydrology Resources Coordinator. “Rainfall in Iowa over the next few months will help get next year off to a good start, but if conditions remain dry, we could have challenges going into 2025.”

For a thorough review of Iowa’s water resource trends, visit

 www.iowadnr.gov/watersummaryupdate.

By Matt Kelley (Radio Iowa)

Iowans will hear some new terminology when the winds of winter start to blow.

National Weather Service meteorologist Chad Hahn says the agency is abandoning a few familiar terms in favor of language that’s a little more direct.

“You may be familiar with the wind chill warning, the wind chill watch, those are going to become extreme cold warnings and extreme cold watches,” Hahn says, “and similarly, for the wind chill advisory, that’s going to be rebranded as a cold weather advisory.”

If the air temperature is ten-below-zero, that’s quite frigid whether there’s a breeze or not, so Hahn says it makes sense to have an alternative to wind chill advisories when it’s not windy.

“It’s all going to fall under this umbrella of extreme cold,” Hahn says. “Cold is cold regardless of whether it’s blowing 50 miles per hour or if the winds are calm, you still have the same risk outside if you’re exposed for long periods of time.”

The term “wind chill” isn’t going away, as Hahn says it remains very useful during the winter months to describe what the air temperature feels like with a combination of cold temperatures and sustained winds.

“We are going to continue to use wind chills. In fact, the criteria is still going to be driven by the ‘feels like’ temperature, the apparent temperature which wind chill is part of,” Hahn says. ” On the warm side, we deal with the ‘feels like’ temperature as the heat index.”

It’s possible we’ll hear about the heat index again in a few days, as the forecast calls for parts of Iowa to see unseasonably warm high temperatures in the low 90s by the weekend.

DES MOINES — Eighteen lakes across Iowa are gearing up to receive trout this fall. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will release between 1,000 to 2,000 rainbow trout at each location as part of its cool weather trout program that brings trout to areas that cannot support them during the summer months.

The fall community trout stockings are a great place to take kids to catch their first fish. A small hook with a night crawler or corn under a small bobber or small simple spinners, such as a Panther Martin or Mepps, is all you need to get in on the fun.

Bringing trout to cities and towns offers a “close to home” option for Iowans who might not travel to northeast Iowa to discover trout fishing. A family-friendly event is often paired with the stocking to help anglers have success and fun while fishing. Check the Iowa DNR Trout Fishing website to see which lakes are having events.

The popular program is supported by the sales of the trout fee. Anglers need a valid fishing license and pay the trout fee to fish for or possess trout. The daily limit is five trout per licensed angler with a possession limit of 10.

Children age 15 or younger can fish for trout with a properly licensed adult, but they must limit their catch to one daily limit. The child can purchase a trout fee which will allow them to catch their own limit.

2024 Fall Community Trout Stocking Schedule

Oct. 18, Moorland Pond, Fort Dodge, Noon

Oct. 18, Big Lake, Council Bluffs, 3 p.m.

Oct. 18, Sand Lake, Marshalltown, Noon

Oct. 24, Ottumwa Park Pond, Ottumwa, 11 a.m.

Oct. 25, Prairie Park Fishery, Cedar Rapids, 10 a.m.

Oct. 25, Liberty Centre Pond, North Liberty, 10:30 a.m.

Oct. 26, Emma Young Pond, Clinton, 10 a.m.

Oct. 26, Industrial Park Pond, Fairfield, 11 a.m.

Oct. 26, Discovery Park Pond, Muscatine, Noon

Oct. 28, Terra Lake, Johnston, Noon

Oct. 28, Triumph Park East & West, Waukee, 1:30 p.m.

Oct. 31, Ada Hayden Heritage Park Lake, Ames, Noon

Oct. 31, Lake Petocka, Bondurant, Noon

Nov. 5, Scharnberg Pond, Spencer, Noon

Nov. 5, Bacon Creek, Sioux City, 1:30 p.m.

Nov. 8, Heritage Pond, Dubuque, 11 a.m.

Nov. 8, North Prairie Lake, Cedar Falls, 11:30 a.m.

Nov. 27, Blue Pit, Mason City, 11 a.m.

Find more information about trout fishing in community lakes on the DNR trout fishing webpage.