Gazette Daily News Briefing, September 25
This is Stephen Schmidt from the Gazette Digital News Desk, and I’m here with your update for September 25, 2023.
According to the National Weather Service there will be a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1 p.m. on Monday in the Cedar Rapids area. There may also be some patchy fog before 9 a.m. But besides that, it should be another mostly sunny day, with a high near 80 degrees.
There may be a better chance for some rain on Tuesday.
Drought conditions have continued to worsen across Eastern Iowa this summer. Exceptional drought — the most severe drought ranking — covers about 5 percent of the state, the greatest extent Iowa has seen since the start of the U.S. Drought Monitor in 2000. Almost three quarters of the state is experiencing severe drought or worse.
Overall, 2023 ranks in the top 10 driest years for Northeast and East-Central Iowa. Linn and Benton counties each have received less than 50 percent of normal rainfall throughout the summer, marking their record-driest summers. About 80 percent of the state’s topsoil moisture levels ranked below adequate, according to the recently released U.S. Department of Agriculture Crop Progress and Condition report.
“The current drought, which is approaching 170 consecutive weeks of at least moderate drought conditions somewhere in the state, has been the longest in the U.S. Drought Monitor’s nearly 24-year period of record," said Justin Glisan, the state drought coordinator and climatologist, in a statement.
Those conditions have taken their toll on crops and livestock in Eastern Iowa, particularly into the northeast corner of the state. Harvest is just getting started — but many farmers aren’t optimistic about this year’s yields.
At this point, rain won’t make a difference to this year’s crops and grazing conditions. So far, 5 percent of the state’s corn has been harvested, along with 3 percent of its soybeans. Only time will tell how yields may turn out.
Traffic into and out of downtown Cedar Rapids on the First Avenue Bridge will be affected Tuesday during floodgate testing.
The First Avenue Bridge over the Cedar River is set to be closed from Third Street West to First Street East from 5 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday. Detour signs will be in place.
The city is testing the roller gate that was installed near First Street East outside City Hall to ensure that the wet seal is watertight in the event of a flood. The gate is 12 feet tall, 82 feet long and 6 feet thick.
Besides doing floodgate testing, crews are scheduled to re-stripe the road.
