There are a multitude of drought indicators available online, but sifting through all of the data can be overwhelming. We have pulled together a few key indicators to give you a sense of the drought status in Cedar Rapids.
Rain Deficit
The rain deficit is the difference between how much rain Cedar Rapids usually gets and how much rain has actually fallen this year. (source)
Departure from Normal Rainfall (Jan. 1–Nov. 15, 2021)
-10.91 inches
Cedar River Flow
The amount of water flowing through the river has a direct affect on the Cedar Rapids aquifer. The flow of the river is measured in cubic feet per second (cu ft/s). Learn more about about the relationship between the river and our water supply.
Current River Flow |
Median River Flow on this Date |
Historic Lowest River Flow (1901-2021) |
5,490 cu ft/s |
1,940 cu ft/s |
448 cu ft/s |
Last updated 11/15/2021 |
on November 15 across recorded years |
on November 15, 1990 |
(source)
Drought Intensity Map
The intensity of a drought is captured by combining the following factors:
- Amount of Rain (or lack thereof)
- Temperature
- Duration of the drought
(Last updated: 11/11/2021. source )