The drought keeps getting deeper across Minnesota. New maps from the U.S. Drought Monitor on Thursday show that 96 percent of the state is in a moderate to extreme drought, up from 77 percent a week earlier.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - The drought is getting worse in Minnesota. New data from the U.S. Drought Monitor on Thursday show that 77 percent of Minnesota is now in a moderate to extreme drought, up from 64 percent a week earlier.
This is likely going to be one of the driest Septembers ever in St. Cloud. So far this month, we've only had .24" of an inch of rain. If we don't get any rain before Sunday, and there's none in the forecast, this will be our second driest September on record.
The drought and dry conditions are expanding across Minnesota. Thursday's update from the U.S. Drought Monitor shows that 83.5 percent of Minnesota is now rated abnormally dry.
Minnesota farmers continue to dodge the worst of the drought that's affecting most of the country. In its weekly crop weather report for Minnesota, the U.S. Department of Agriculture notes that the state experienced scattered showers and cooler temperatures this past week.
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture has rolled out a new web site providing information and resources to help farmers cope with the drought conditions that are deepening across southern and western Minnesota.