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Weather Blog: Persistently Dry Conditions Continue

The lawns have turned brown and crunchy across much of the area, due to unusual and persistently dry conditions through the current late-summer and early-autumn period.

Precipitation totals in the eight weeks from July 26 to Sept. 19 tallied to less than two inches in much of the region, which according to the Minnesota State Climatology Office, when compared with the same eight week period in their historical database, ranks among the lowest rainfall totals on record.

Precipitation Departure from Normal - July-September
(credit: Minnesota State Climatology Office)

 
The total September precipitation to date at MSP is only 0.31" contributing to a deficit of over two inches. St. Cloud, Duluth, Chanhassan and Eau Claire are experiencing rainfall deficits of over two inches for the month thus far as well.

Thirsty rain gauges across western Wisconsin and southeastern Minnesota have been receiving some rainy relief over the last 24 hours from showers generated by a closed low over eastern Iowa. Through 4:30 p.m. Monday, La Crosse had received 0.85" of rain, with 0.81" in Stockton, 0.52" in Stewartville, 0.37" in Eau Claire and 0.26" in Rochester.

The rainfall for Rochester east to La Crosse is a welcome sight as, according to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor, "abnormally dry" conditions persist in this area. Conditions of moderate to severe drought continue across portions of Minnesota's Arrowhead.

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