No Change in Overall Drought Conditions, but Slight Improvement in Some of the Hardest Hit Areas

(KNSI) — The latest drought monitor shows no change overall but a slight improvement in some of the worst conditions.

The latest readings taken on August 8th and released Thursday morning showed even after some rainfall in the past week, all of Minnesota is at least abnormally dry, with 79.78% of the state in a moderate drought. That’s up slightly from last week’s 79.71%. Last week, the severe drought conditions covered 33.62%. This week it’s up slightly to 33.99%.

The extreme to exceptional drought conditions in the state overall improved slightly from 2.89% last week to 2.83% this week.

There was little to no change in drought conditions around the tri-county area.

Benton County stayed the same, with 54.51% in extreme to exceptional drought and 100% in moderate drought.

Sherburne County is also in a moderate drought and 26.9% in extreme to exceptional drought, the same as last week.

There was no change in Stearns County, with 5.13% in extreme to exceptional drought. There was a slight improvement in the moderate drought category from 92.46% last week to 92.27% this week.

Nationwide, close to 49% of the country is experiencing no drought conditions, with .23% in exceptional drought versus .26% last week.

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