Photo: U.S. Drought Monitor
(Undated) -- Iowa's drought picture has improved a little bit, after rains last week. This week's U.S. Drought Monitor shows 75-percent of Iowa as dry or in some form of drought, compared to 85-percent last week. There are two locations still in extreme drought, areas north of Waterloo (Bremer, Chickasaw & Fayette counties) and an area west of Cedar Rapids (Benton county, and part of Tama, Poweshiek and Iowa counties.
Areas in northwest Iowa, far southern and far eastern Iowa are no longer in dry conditions.
The National Weather service is predicting shows and storms late Thursday night into Friday morning. Severe weather is possible Friday afternoon in western Iowa. Showers could track northeast and east Friday night. Forecaster say a few tornadoes, and strong wind gusts will be possible.
More storms with locally heavy rainfall are expected Saturday from mid to late afternoon into the overnight and again later Sunday afternoon and evening. For Saturday, damaging wind gusts and hail look to be the primary severe threats. The NWS is not ruling out tornadic activity. There's also a potential for severe weather Sunday.
Photo: U.S. Drought Monitor