Spotty rain helps some areas more than others

Previous 72 hours total precipitation, as of 4 p.m. Monday. National Weather Service graphic

By Bob Steenson, bsteenson@charlescitypress.com

While some parts of Floyd County and other nearby areas celebrated receiving more than 4 inches of rain from Friday through Sunday, Charles City and points south of the city received barely an inch. Some areas of the county received less than three-quarters of an inch.

The heaviest rain was so localized that, according to iweathernet.com, most of Charles City received from 1 inch to 1.5 inches of rain over that period, while areas just 4 miles north received up to 3.25 inches and areas just a couple of miles south received only about 0.6 inches from Friday through Sunday.

The official tally by the National Weather Service lists Charles City as having received 1.31 inches from Friday to Sunday.

An area northeast of Rudd received from 3.75 inches to more than 4 inches, the weather website iweathernet.com estimated. An area on the Floyd County/Chickasaw County line received 3.75 inches. An area northeast of New Hampton received more than 4.5 inches of rain from Friday through Sunday.

Additional rain was moving through the area Monday evening.

Regardless of how much fell in total, it was needed. As of Thursday, Charles City had received less than an inch of rain for the entire month of June so far. With the rain received Friday through Sunday, the total increased to a little over 2 inches for the month.

That’s still far below “normal” and below the inch-a-week average that experts say is needed for optimal crop conditions. The average rainfall in Charles City for the month of June is 5.75 inches, so up to Monday the community had received less than half the normal amount or moisture.

According to the weekly Iowa Crop Progress and Condition report issued Monday by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, the rain helped but did not make up the seasonal shortfall.

Topsoil moisture levels rated 12% very short, 30% short, 52% adequate and 6% surplus, the report said. Subsoil moisture levels rated 18% very short, 42% short, 37% adequate and 3% surplus.

“While precipitation fell across the state during the week, amounts received varied widely with northwest Iowa still reporting over two-thirds of topsoil moisture short to very short. In contrast, districts in the southern one-third of Iowa rated 60% or more of subsoil moisture adequate to surplus,” the report said.

For the north-central region of the state that includes Floyd County, topsoil moisture was rated 24% very short, 30% short, 45% adequate and 1% surplus. Subsoil moisture was listed as 24% very short, 37% short, 39% adequate and 0% surplus.

Farmers reported crops benefited from the rain but more moisture is needed, especially in the northern two-thirds of the state.

Iowa’s corn condition rated 60% good to excellent. Soybean emergence was virtually complete. Across the state, 19% of soybeans were blooming, 6 days ahead of the five-year average. There were scattered reports of soybeans setting pods. Soybean condition was rated 58% good to excellent.

The report shows that rainfall across the state mirrored the spotty impact it had in the Charles City area.

Weekly precipitation totals ranged from 0.27 inch in Sheldon (O’Brien County) to 8.10 inches in Cedar Rapids (Linn County). The statewide weekly average precipitation was 2.13 inches, almost double the weekly normal of 1.09 inches.

The forecast from the National Weather Service calls for a 50% chance of showers and thunderstorms today (Tuesday), but less than a quarter-inch of rain likely. There’s at least a slight chance of showers every day through Thursday.

Charles City June Rain

• • June 3 — Trace
  • June 17 — 0.15 in.
  • June 18 — 0.07 in.
  • June 19 — Trace
  • June 20 — 0.03 in.
  • June 21 — 0.57 in.
  • June 26 — 0.50 in.
  • June 27 — 0.81 in.
  • Total so far — 2.13 in.
  • Avg. month — 5.75 in.