Minnesota drought conditions improve, with more rain moving in

Last week’s heavy rain across much of Minnesota made a dent in the drought for most of the state. A storm Thursday and Friday brings a renewed rain chance to some of the areas that still desperately need precipitation. 

The heavy rain that targeted Minnesota last week was very beneficial for the state’s drought situation, but not everyone got an equal soaking. Southern Minnesota saw had several places where precipitation exceeded 6 inches, while northern Minnesota had spots under an inch total for the entire week.

That inequity is reflected in who saw resulting improvements in this week’s drought monitor. 

Northern Minnesota saw little improvement in the drought situation, although were minor improvements northwest and fortunately no expansion of the drought.

By comparison, central and southern Minnesota had significant improvements versus last week (last week’s image is inset right), with many areas dropping down to a lower category of drought intensity. 

This includes the Twin Cities metro area, most of which went from severe drought during last week’s reading to moderate drought now.

Another noteworthy milestone is that central and southern Minnesota are now entirely out of extreme drought. In fact, the portion of the state in extreme or greater drought fell 20 percent in the past week, from 58 percent to 38 percent. 

Those numbers could lower again by next week, as rain moving into Minnesota may help some of northern Minnesota reduce its extreme drought areas.

Thursday and Friday

A storm that will impact the state through Friday is already bringing showers and a few storms into western Minnesota as of 10 a.m.

This area of precipitation is moving slowly, with most of eastern Minnesota, including the Twin Cities, not expected to see the precipitation begin until Thursday evening.

Here is that forecast timing of when the rain moves in:

Even before the rain moves in, clouds have spread across the state, with mostly cloudy skies expected Thursday and much of Friday. 

In western Minnesota, where the clouds moved in earlier, overnight lows stayed in the 60s Thursday morning, while eastern Minnesota kept cleared skies and started the day in the 40s north and 50s south. 

During the day Thursday, with little sunshine providing warmth, eastern Minnesota should only make it into the low 70s.

Western Minnesota will be even cooler thanks to the rain during the day, with more highs in the 60s. That puts highs in most places 5 to 10 degrees below average.

Friday brings the opposite temperature trend, with rain moving out west to east, western Minnesota makes it into the low 70s, while eastern Minnesota stays in the 60s.

By the time the precipitation moves out on Friday, much of Minnesota can expect at least a half inch of rain, although the very eastern edge of the state may see lower amounts. 

The highest amounts are expected in western Minnesota, and west-central Minnesota may get a corridor of rainfall with over two inches. Part of the area expecting more of the significant rain also falls in some of Minnesota’s deepest drought, so this rainfall could be very beneficial there!

Labor Day weekend

The weather turns quieter and drier just in time for the holiday weekend.

Northern Minnesota may stay unsettled enough for a few spotty showers over the weekend, and even the Twin Cities could see a stray shower from that, especially Saturday morning or Monday evening.

But overall, the holiday weekend remains predominantly dry, mostly sunny, and comfortable. Highs for almost the entire state make it back into the 70s by Saturday, and 70s stick around for the weekend, although northern Minnesota is likely to see a few more 60s. 

Here is that forecast for the Twin Cities:

Programming note

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