The updated US Drought Monitor released this morning removes a small area of D3 drought classification over northwestern Iowa. The featured chart presents trailing day precipitation departures for Sheldon, IA (a site within this D3 area) along with the drought classification underlain. Assigning a single drought category to drought impacts that can happen on various time scales is tricky business. The chart nicely shows that near term departures are now positive for the site, but long term significant departures remain. Recent rainfalls in the area and some improvement in the long term departures helped to tip this area back to a "D2" classification. It continues to be important for this area to receive rainfall this spring season to help supply water to crops over the coming growing season.

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