Benton, Sherburne Counties Now Abnormally Dry As Drought Signs Emerge

(KNSI) – After more than two weeks without measurable rainfall, signs of drought are starting to show up in central Minnesota.

According to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor figures, all of Benton and Sherburne counties and just over half of Stearns County are now considered abnormally dry. That means the area has a short-term moisture deficiency that isn’t severe enough to be classified as an official drought. It’s a pre-drought warning sign.

Meanwhile, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has placed the Mississippi Headwaters watershed under its Drought Warning Response Phase, citing what state climatologists call a “storage drought,” a critical depletion of lake levels, soil moisture and groundwater.

St. Cloud falls within the affected watershed. The city says it is working with the DNR for guidance throughout the drought.

While the Mississippi River remains a reliable source of drinking water for the city, officials say water conservation is a key part of drought response. The city is encouraging residents to cut back on water use both indoors and outdoors.

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