Long, wet winter seems to be helping out
(more…)

File photo

“Below-normal temperatures are likely for the state for December, January and February and officials indicated winter might bring some drought relief to Minnesota and the Dakotas,” via Star Tribune.

Image courtesy of the U.S. Drought Monitor
“Nonessential” tasks like lawn watering and car washing are being targeted as rain deficit gets worse (Star Tribune).

“More than this weekend’s expected rain is needed to quench drought – but it could signal the end of the state’s dry spell,” via Star Tribune.

Paul Huttner: “The jury is still out on exactly what kind of weather we’ll see in the Twin Cities Saturday but one thing appears fairly certain. It will rain for the first time in a long while.

“The last time more than even .25″ of rain fall in the metro was nearly 2 months ago on August 15th when .73″ temporarily greened up lawns and fields.

The maps look promising for a potent low pressure system to spin out of the southern Rockies and race for southeast Minnesota Saturday. The big question? Where will the exact track end up?” (Updraft)

Map via

State Drought Monitor.

Pioneer Press: “About 84 percent of the state was either abnormally dry or in a drought as of Tuesday, the data cutoff for the map. That’s up from about 63 percent of the state the previous week.

“‘The biggest concern is recharging the soil for the plants going into next year,’ assistant state climatologist Pete Boulay said. ‘I don’t think what rain falls now is going to help the plants this season.’”

Harvest Public Media is mapping the Midwest drought. A new farmer from Ruthton, Minn. who keeps “a dozen head of purebred Angus cattle” says “we will survive the drought mostly due to luck (rain) and planning. We have not sought assistance due to drought, but we plan on applying for grants to help fund some water management practices in the future.” View the map and responses across the Midwest here.