Based on long term climate sites tracked by the IEM, the driest location in the state over the past two years is Ottumwa (located southeast of Des Moines). The featured chart presents Ottumwa's trailing day precipitation departures over the past two years and the analyzed US Drought Monitor condition for the location. The precipitation departures are plotted for a trailing 91, 365, and 720 day window. The green line shows the accumulated departure over the past two years standing now at 20 inches. The brief stint at D3 classification last year shows up nicely and the rapid improvement with the big rains late last growing season. The same scenario has yet to materialize for the area this year and there is little rain in the forecast for the next seven days.

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