5:06 PM Thursday, October 17, 2024
Moderate to severe drought conditions are persistently expanding across Minnesota and Wisconsin.
Here’s the drought monitor for October 15, 2024
Minnesota
- Severe drought conditions now affect 28% of the state, an increase from 19% the previous week.
- 71% of the state is currently experiencing moderate drought conditions, an increase from 68% the previous week.
- 97% of the state remains abnormally dry, with no change from the previous week.
Wisconsin
- Severe drought conditions now affect 20% of the state, an increase from 18% the previous week.
- Moderate drought conditions now affect 63% of the state, an increase from 44% the previous week.
- The entire state is now classified as Abnormally Dry, an increase from 99% the previous week.
1 week drought monitor class change
October 15, 2024, compared to October 8, 2024
This past weekend, parts of northeast Minnesota received significant rainfall, leading to a one-class improvement in drought conditions in the green area depicted on the map.
The drought has intensified by one category in the yellow-designated regions, while the gray areas have experienced no change.
12-week drought monitor class change
October 15, 2024, compared to July 23, 2024
In the past 12 weeks, the drought has intensified by one to three categories across much of the Northland area.
Over the past week, parts of northeast Minnesota and far northern Wisconsin experienced above-average precipitation, while other regions of the Northland, including the Duluth area, received below-normal rainfall.
Note: Since September 1st, Duluth has experienced a precipitation deficit of 4.70 inches below the normal average.
Thanks for reading!