Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

Dryness increasing across parts of Minnesota

Much of central and northern Minnesota trending abnormally dry

It’s a tale of two springs in Minnesota when it comes to precipitation.

The Twin Cities and much of southern Minnesota has recorded ample rainfall this spring.

But much of central and northern Minnesota is running 2 to 3 inches below average on precipitation so far this year. The continued dryness boosted the area in Minnesota categorized as “abnormally dry” in the latest U. S. Drought Monitor to 56.12 percent. That’s up about 5 percent from last week.

U.S. Drought Monitor for Minnesota
U.S. Drought Monitor for Minnesota
USDA/UNL

Much of northern Minnesota has recorded just 10 percent to 50 percent of average rainfall in the past month.

30-day precipitation departure from average
Thirty-day precipitation departure from average.
Midwest Regional Climate Center

Soggy Twin Cities

Meanhwile heavy rainfall has soaked the Twin Cities and parts of southern Minnesota in the past week. The Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport has recorded 4.85 inches of rainfall so far in May. That’s more than 3 inches above average for the month. A zone around the Twin Cities has recorded more than 5 inches of rainfall in the past month.

30-day precipitation
Thirty-day precipitation.
Midwest Regional Climate Center

Mostly dry into next week

The forecast maps favor dry weather for about the next week across most of Minnesota. here’s the European model precipitation output through next Tuesday.

European model (ECMWF) precipitation output
European model (ECMWF) precipitation output through next Tuesday
ECMWF via pivotal weather