There was some improvement in drought conditions in Minnesota in the latest drought monitor released on August 31, 2021.
- 6% of Minnesota is in Exceptional Drought, down from 8% last week.
- 37% of Minnesota is in Extreme Drought, down from 57% last week.
- 65% of Minnesota is in Severe Drought, down from 87% last week.
- 88% of Minnesota is in Moderate Drought, down from 96% last week.
- 96% of Minnesota is Abnormally Dry, down from 98% last week.
Drought improving in Wisconsin.
- 1% of Wisconsin is in Severe Drought, down from 2% last week.
- 19% of Wisconsin is in Moderate Drought, down from 23% last week.
- 34% of Wisconsin is Abnormally Dry, down from 39% last week.
- 1% of the Midwest is in Exceptional Drought, unchanged from last week.
- 6% of the Midwest is in Extreme Drought, down from 10% last week.
- 12% of the Midwest is in Severe Drought, down from 18% last week.
- 24% of the Midwest is in Moderate Drought, down from 27% last week.
- 38% of the Midwest is Abnormally Dry, down from 42% last week.
- 5% of North Dakota is in Exceptional Drought, down from 13% last week.
- 64% of North Dakota is in Extreme Drought, down from 73% last week.
- 94% of North Dakota is in Severe Drought, down from 99% last week.
- 99% of North Dakota is in Moderate Drought, down from 100% last week.
- 100% of North Dakota is Abnormally Dry, unchanged from last week.
0-100 cm Soil Moisture Percentile as of September 3, 2021.
Red and darker red colors indicate very dry soil, while green and blue colors indicate wet soil.
USDA Topsoil Moisture for the week ending August 29, 2021.
Red=Very Dry
Yellow=Dry
An additional 9 to 12 inches of precipitation is needed to end the current drought in northeastern Minnesota, while eastern Minnesota needs an additional 6 to 9 inches of precipitation to end their drought. Conditions are a little better in northwest Wisconsin where an additional 3 to 6 inches of precipitation is needed to end their drought.
Bottom line here, we have a ways to go!
Tim