Tracking precipitation departures during the cold season can be problematic as climatological accumulations this time of year are minimal, there's no plant activity, and precipitation estimates struggle when it snows. The updated US drought monitor released yesterday did so some expansion of the "D0" (Abnormally Dry) classification over eastern Iowa. The featured map presents PRISM computed precipitation departures for January 2022. Much of the upper Midwest is shown below average with only a few pockets slightly above. Drought concerns from last year continue to linger into this year, but this is generally not the time of year we can make up deficits. The months of March and April will bear watching to see if more meaningful rainfalls can come!

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