Dryness tightens its grip across the state

Minnesota's drought continued to intensify this week. Nearly half the state is now experiencing severe drought as conditions worsen.

A stubborn summer drought

Minnesota’s drought is showing very few signs of letting up. Periods of intense heat this summer combined with a lack of widespread soaking rainfall have steadily depleted soil moisture and stressed vegetation across the state.

The U.S. Drought Monitor report released this week continues to show a broad swath of drought across Minnesota, with the most concerning conditions concentrated across central and northern portions of the state.

The percentage of Minnesota experiencing at least moderate drought jumped from just under 70 percent last week to 75 percent this week. On the map, you can see the expansion of moderate drought in southwestern portions of the state as well as across much of northern Minnesota.

Areas under severe drought widened significantly. Last week's map had 34 percent of Minnesota in severe drought or worse. This week, that number surged to more than 44 percent.

That means nearly 45 percent of the state is now experiencing severe drought or worse — a sharp escalation from just one week ago.

For Minnesota's drought to substantially improve, the state needs more than isolated thunderstorms. A meaningful recovery would require repeated, widespread rainfall events capable of replenishing topsoil moisture and gradually restoring deeper groundwater reserves.