(KNSI) – The drought continues to deepen in central Minnesota.
All of Benton County is now in severe drought, along with the northern fringe of Sherburne County and about a quarter of Stearns County, concentrated in St. Cloud and the northeast section. Last week, the western portion of Stearns County was only abnormally dry but that has been upgraded to a moderate drought. Sherburne County is also entirely in at least a moderate drought.
Statewide, less than 8% of Minnesota is at normal soil moisture, concentrated in the southwest ranging from Murray to Blue Earth Counties. We average about an inch of rain per week this time of year. So far, June has seen barely a tenth of an inch in total. That follows a dry May as well.
Some relief is expected this weekend. Up to a quarter inch could fall Friday night with three-quarters of an inch possible on both Saturday and Saturday night.
The United States Drought Monitor releases its report weekly on Thursday morning. It says the Upper Midwest was one of the few regions in the country to see above-average temperatures over the past seven days.
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