(KNSI) – For the first time this summer, parts of central Minnesota are listed in extreme drought.
It includes just over half of Benton County, the northwestern part of Sherburne County, and the immediate St. Cloud area in Stearns County. Most of the rest of the area is in severe drought but it is only moderately dry in the western half of Stearns County.
The readings released by the U.S. Drought Monitor were taken early Tuesday. They do not include the rain from yesterday that rolled through the area. The National Weather Service estimates that 0.28″ fell in St. Cloud. Over an inch fell in central Stearns County.
There is a 50% chance for showers and thunderstorms late Saturday afternoon and evening. Extreme heat is expected for next week, which will stress already dry soil.
The National Weather Service is providing more context on just how dry it’s been in the past two months.
The Drought Monitor update this morning introduced Extreme Drought (level 3 of 4) to the St. Cloud area. So how dry has it been in St. Cloud? Well the 2.21″ of rain from May 1 to July 19 this year is easily the driest for this period going back to 1893 and near 7.5″ below normal. pic.twitter.com/pxEwJGvJmQ
— NWS Twin Cities (@NWSTwinCities) July 20, 2023
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