Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

Significant improvement made in drought conditions

Beneficial rain helped drive drought improvement

Drought monitor 11-21
Drought monitor 11-21
National Drought Mitigation Center

Significant progress has been made in improving drought conditions, with the most notable change occurring in the severe drought category. The situation has been greatly alleviated thanks to beneficial rainfall.

Biggest change with beneficial showers

The significant weather system that brought favorable rain showers on November 18th and 19th played a key role in the notable changes observed in the latest drought monitor. Rainfall totals across the state ranged from 1 inch to more than 2 inches in western Minnesota.

Observed precipitation for the past 7 days
Observed precipitation for the past 7 days
Midwestern Regional Climate Center-MRCC

Severe drought levels dropped significantly, from just under 45 percent to a little over 15 percent, with the most notable change occurring in western Minnesota and extending northeast through the Iron Range. Meanwhile, our moderate drought situation decreased from nearly 79 percent last week to just under 65 percent this week.

Drought changes 11-14 to 11-21
Drought changes 11-14 to 11-21
National Drought Mitigation Center