News

Snow drought in the Midwest?

A climatologist says many farmers in the Midwest are experiencing a snow drought to start the year.

Justin Glisan is with the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and says, “Anywhere from 14-to-20 inches below average. Statewide totals through the season is about 4.4 inches. That’s a little over 14 inches below where we should be towards the end of January.”

He tells Brownfield he’s concerned about soil moisture for the 2025 growing season. “Our soil profiles are looking better than they were last year at this time, but we would like some more soil moisture in there into the profiles.”

Glisan says short-term outlooks show elevated chances of wetter-than-normal conditions through the first half of February. “Which suggests a shift in the storm track. I think we’re going to see some snow on the ground within the next two weeks.”

He says it’s been one of Iowa’s driest winters in 138 years of record keeping.

Glisan’s full interview on Brownfield can be heard below.

AUDIO: Iowa climatologist Dr. Justin Glisan