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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. 

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

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.

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.

Weather and Climate News

Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

Paul Huttner

Author

Much of northern and central Minnesota is running dry this spring.

USDA/UNL

30-day precipitation departure from average 

Midwest Regional Climate Center

European model (ECMWF) precipitation output

Dryness increasing across parts of Minnesota

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