The latest Drought Monitor map, released Thursday, shows conditions worsening in some of south central Minnesota, with it hitting extreme heights in some parts of the state.
Most of Martin and Blue Earth Counties, as wells as most of south central and southwestern Minnesota, remain in either a moderate drought or are listed as abnormally dry, with most of Faribault County in moderate drought and the eastern part of the county in severe drought.
For the first time this year, there are areas of “exceptional drought”, the highest drought rating, showing up in the state.
Parts of Mower and Freeborn Counties are in exceptional drought, as are parts of Carlson and Aikin Counties, near Duluth.
Areas of southeastern and northeastern Minnesota are in an expanding extreme drought range.
Thursday’s drought monitor shows all categories of drought have expanded in the state.