Dry conditions remain in northwest Iowa, but they have continued to shrink in the September rains.

The area of moderate drought has gone from almost seven percent down to around two percent in the latest U.S. Drought Monitor report. The majority of the moderate drought is in Woodbury and Monona counties, with very small amounts in nearby Harrison and Plymouth counties.

The amount of abnormally dry area is down to 12.4%, compared to more than 49% at the start of the calendar year. Nearly 88% of the state now has no dry conditions, which is up by nearly two percent from last week.

The Drought Monitor includes conditions through Tuesday, and does not include the impact of the rain since then.