Two rounds of rainfall this week may provide some needed drought relief across the region. According to the National Weather Service, most the area south of I-80 and east of I-35 locally could receive 1-2 inches of rain from late Sunday night through Wednesday evening. A break is expected most of Tuesday with warmer-than-average conditions expected, before a more season-like burst of air follows by Thursday morning, with lows in the 40s and highs in the low 60s.

The precipitation comes after one of the driest and warmest starts to fall on record in south central Iowa, which for many, felt like an extension of summer-like conditions. Severe drought is in place in northeastern Marion County and most of the area north and along of Highway 92 is in moderate drought, as per last week’s U.S. Monitor Report.