The featured chart presents IEM estimated areal averaged precipitation for Iowa during the month of April. After a wet fall and elevated soil moisture levels, we needed a dry April to allow for spring planting. The precipitation total shown is very much on the dry side of average and one of the lowest values seen since 1980. Combined with recently warm air temperatures and we've had near ideal conditions to allow for rapid spring planting progress. The only concern at this point is if colder weather shows up in May, which we generally are forecast to miss at the moment with the coldest air staying off to our east.

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