An Iowa weather expert reveals how the second half of 2025 is shaping up through the early fall season.

State Climatologist Justin Glisan tells Raccoon Valley Radio that soil moisture availability is a main area the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship looks at during the summer. He mentions that the department is not only watching soil moisture in Iowa, but the southern states are a prime factor. 

Glisan acknowledges that the southern half of the United States has had a really active severe weather season this year, which has helped Iowa be steady. He reports that the state saw five tornadoes in June and none in May for the first time in 15 years. Glisan says there were 131 tornadoes in 2024 and elaborates the reason the Department of Ag looks at soil moisture.

“If we have plenty south of us, and that moisture gate from the Gulf is open, those air masses are not going to have moisture extracted from the southern states being dry. So, when there in moisture surpluses, good news for us.”

Glisan outlines that the forecast is showing lots of warmer days throughout the months of August and September. He notes that if there is a prolonged dry pattern, then Iowa could experience abnormally dry conditions or more severe drought.