(KNSI) – Rain in the last couple of weeks has done little to ease the drought even as yards start to turn green. According to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor, 94.7% of the state is in drought compared to 96.6% last week.
The St. Cloud area remains virtually unchanged. Virtually all of eastern Stearns County, Benton, Sherburne, Wright and Morrison County is in severe drought. Western Stearns County is in moderate drought or abnormally dry.
The most severe drought remains in northwestern Minnesota, with 5.8% of the state in exceptional drought. That’s down from 6.7% last week. The latest report shows 36.7% of Minnesota is in extreme drought compared to 37.3% last week.
Central Minnesota is in the worst drought since 1988. St. Cloud, Sartell, Sauk Rapids, Waite Park, and St. Joseph all put watering restrictions in place due to declining aquifers and river levels. Those water restrictions remain in place.
U.S. Drought Monitor
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