![99 Percent of Minnesota is Now in a Drought](https://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2023/09/attachment-Mississippi-River.jpg?w=980&q=75)
99 Percent of Minnesota is Now in a Drought
UNDATED (WJON News) -- Almost the entire state of Minnesota is now in a drought.
Thursday's weekly update from the U.S. Drought Monitor says 99 percent of Minnesota is in at least a Moderate Drought, up from 85 percent last week. Just the far tip of the Arrowhead region is not in a drought, but they are listed as abnormally dry.
The Severe Drought is impacting 62 percent, up from 55 percent last week.
The Extreme Drought area is up to 19 percent, three percent higher than a week ago.
And, the Exceptional Drought area remains at just over one percent.
While the report comes out on Thursday morning, the rainfall numbers are as of Tuesday, so any rain that fell since Tuesday won't be accounted for until next week, so the heavy rain the fell in Duluth Tuesday night isn't factored into this report.
Here in St. Cloud, we've had just .07 of an inch of rain halfway through the month of September. We're 1.36 inches below normal so far for the month.
We've still had less than eight inches of rain in St. Cloud going all the way back to late April, less than half the amount we normally have.
![AM 1240 WJON logo](https://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2021/11/attachment-wjonam-alexacard-big.jpg?w=100)
For the year to date, St. Cloud has had 17.91 inches of precipitation. There's still three-and-half-months left, but right now we're sitting at the third driest year on record.
Some much-needed rain could be on the way. There is rain in the forecast for Central Minnesota from Thursday night into Friday morning. Also, the Climate Prediction Center is calling for above-normal rainfall in Minnesota next week.
READ RELATED ARTICLES
- After Big Jump, Gas Prices Should Start Falling Again
- 14th Annual Pride Weeks Offers Events Each Day this Week
- No, Morgan Wallen is Not Coming to the Rogers, MN Ice Arena
- Benton Co. History: Celebrating Minnesota's Centennial in 1958
- Parts of Minnesota Now in Exceptional Drought
- Winning $2 Million Powerball Ticket Sold in Stearns County
Come Visit Watkins, MN With Us in Pictures
More From AM 1240 WJON
![Going to the Trump Rally in St. Cloud? Here’s What You Need to Know](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2024/07/attachment-Trump-at-RNC-Photo-Brandon-Bell-Getty-Images.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Brainerd Woman Hurt in Sherburne County Crash Friday](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2019/12/State-Patrol2.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Four-Vehicle Pileup Injures Three People Near Buffalo](http://townsquare.media/site/669/files/2020/09/State-Patrol-Cruiser-Andy-Brownell-1.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Evidence of Increased COVID Cases in St. Cloud Area](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2021/12/attachment-Coughing.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![23 Grants Awarded in Central Minnesota Totaling Over $195,000](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2020/03/Money-stock-image1.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![See “Purple Rain” on a HUGE Screen This Weekend in MPLS](http://townsquare.media/site/295/files/2016/04/Prince.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Olympic Watch Party Planned for Alise Post Willoughby](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2024/07/attachment-GettyImages-2148758338.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Pet Adoption Event Coming to St Cloud’s Crossroads Center](http://townsquare.media/site/65/files/2016/03/GettyImages-73808529.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Man Seriously Hurt in a Meeker County Job Site Accident](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2016/11/Meeker-County-Sheriff-1.jpg?w=980&q=75)