Drought conditions are improving in areas of Iowa thanks for recent heavy rains. A new report from the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln shows sections of northwest, southwest, and southeast Iowa are considered to be in drought.

But, the overall drought reduced last week by nearly 12 percent statewide. Drenching rains especially benefited western Iowa, where some areas that were listed as being in “severe drought” last week are now labeled in the “moderate drought” or “abnormally dry” category.