Minnesota Drought Monitor Thursday November 29th update.
The drought that we are currently in is continuing to get progressively worse here in Southeastern Minnesota. Severe drought has expanded and now includes all of Olmstead, Western Fillmore, Northwestern Winona, Southern Goodhue, and most of Wabasha counties. Severe Drought continues to effect Northeastern Mower and Dodge counties. Severe drought includes cities like Dodge Center, Kasson, The Rochester Metro, Wabasha, Plainview and Eyota. Extreme Drought continues to effect Mower county including the of Austin. Even though its late in the season and agricultural crops, yards and gardens are no longer needing much water, the drought has continued to effect the area, especially in lakes and river levels which are well below normal. Also trees and shrubs and grass which depends on fall watering have gone without significant rains which means that may be prone to damage by cold drying winds. We can also expect that yards will likely have competition with weeds next year because of opening spaces from dying grass.
Below is a list of deficits for the year starting January 1st and back in August of 2011 which when our drought truly began.
Deficits 2012 year/Since August 1st 2011
2012 year Since August 1st 2011
Austin -12.38″ -20.94″
Rochester Airport -8.47″ -16.51″
Preston -7.27″ -15.39″
Lanesbro -6.42″ -13.14″
Wabasha -5.18″ -13.88″
Winona -6.49″ -12.56″
Lake City +1.48″ -6.75″
Wow! Those are some impressive deficits you have down in there. Gonna take a couple big storms or a prolonged wet pattern to get back to normal.
It’s been dry since I’ve lived here Tim, Living in Wisconsin I always looked “down” to Southern Minnesota thinking it was so much wet and stormier! Definitely doesn’t feel it living here