After some much needed rainfall, the recent weather has much of Minnesota and Iowa slipping back into dry conditions.
The latest U.S. Drought Monitor released Thursday shows nearly 61% of Minnesota is now considered abnormally dry, a sharp increase from about 42% just one week earlier. Moderate drought conditions also expanded, now covering nearly 12% of Minnesota.
The driest areas are centered in parts of central Minnesota, where moderate drought had developed and far southwestern Minnesota, where isolated severe drought conditions remain.
Statewide, less than 39% of Minnesota is currently free from drought or abnormal dryness. That’s down from nearly 58% a week ago.
The Drought Monitor also says that more than 43% of Iowa is now considered abnormally dry, nearly doubling from about 25% just one week earlier. Moderate drought conditions remain limited, covering about 2.3% of Iowa, while severe drought affects just a small portion of the far western edge of the state.
The driest conditions are concentrated across Northern Iowa, where abnormally dry conditions stretch from the northwest corner through north central parts of the state. Smaller dry pockets are also showing up in eastern Iowa.
Despite the increase in dry weather, more than 56% of Iowa remains free from drought or abnormal dryness.
No areas in Minnesota or Iowa are currently classified in extreme or exceptional drought.
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