As Minnesota drought conditions worsen, relief remains uncertain

Minnesota's drought has reached extreme levels in part of northwestern Minnesota, as more than 88% of the state is now feeling the impacts.

The latest U.S. Drought Monitor map now shows extreme drought conditions not far from Moorhead, Minnesota. Communities from Rush City to Minneapolis are now urging residents to conserve water as dry conditions persist.

"Currently, we're looking at drought conditions generally statewide in Minnesota," said National Weather Service Twin Cities Meteorologist Nick Carletta.

The impacts are already visible. Stressed trees were easy to spot Sunday in parts of Chanhassen and Minneapolis.

The drought is largely the result of repeated storm systems missing the Twin Cities region, Carletta said.

"There's been some good rain going off to our north and our south, and we're just kind of stuck in this middle area between the two main streams," he said.

Still, Carletta said this year's drought is not expected to rival the historic drought of 2022, which he said ranked among Minnesota's 10 worst summer droughts on record. That year, the severe dry spell left Minnehaha Creek bone dry and reduced Minnehaha Falls to little more than a trickle.

"Currently, if we had no more rain, we'd be 14th right now," Carletta said. "So we will not be a top 10 this summer."

Looking ahead, NOAA forecasts call for near-normal precipitation over the next few weeks, while longer-range outlooks show equal chances of above or below normal rainfall through the next three months.

Meaningful drought relief remains uncertain.

"The good news is for the very beginning of the State Fair it looks like we're looking to be pretty good on not having any kind of bad weather," Carletta said. "The bad news is there's not any strong signal for a big needed rain to kind of help out with our drought conditions."