Drought in Minnesota, October 1 to 31, 2023

D2 Severe Drought conditions persisted through the month across the southwestern corner of the county. Some improvement was seen from D1 Moderate Drought to D0 Abnormally Dry across the eastern part of the county, however. Rainfall for the month was around 1 to 2 inches above normal across the central portion of the county.

D2 Severe Drought conditions were in place across the western quarter of northern Itasca County throughout the month with no changes observed. There was some improvement from D1 Moderate Drought to D0 Abnormally Dry across the eastern part of the county, however. Overall, rainfall for the month was within an inch of normal.

D2 Severe Drought conditions were in place across the far western reaches of southern Itasca County throughout the month with no changes observed. Overall, rainfall for the month was within an inch of normal.

October began with D3 Extreme Drought conditions over much of northern Cass County with D2 Severe Drought elsewhere. The area of D3 Extreme Drought was removed with the update on the 10th, but no additional chances were seen over the remainder of the month. Rainfall was near to slightly below normal over the course of the month.

The entirety of southern Cass County was covered with D2 Severe Drought throughout the month of October with no changes in status observed over the course of the month. Rainfall for the month was slightly below normal overall.

The entirety of Crow Wing County was covered with D2 Severe Drought to begin the month with a flight reduction in the area of D2 Severe Drought in the east-central portion of the county near Lake Mille Lacs with the update on the 3rd. It was replaced with D1 Moderate Drought and no additional changes were seen over the remainder of the month. Rainfall for the month was slightly below normal overall.

October began with D2 Severe Drought over much of northern Aitkin County with a small area of D1 Moderate Drought over the northeastern corner. Further reductions in D2 Severe Drought were seen with the update on the 10th leaving roughly the eastern half of the county in D1 Moderate Drought and the western half in D2 Severe Drought. No additional changed were seen over the remainder of the month with rainfall for the month near to slightly below normal.

October began with D2 Severe Drought conditions across the entirety of southern Aitkin County. Most of the D2 Severe Drought conditions were removed with the updates on the 3rd and the 10th, leaving only areas near the Mississippi River in D2 Severe Drought. The remainder of the area was under D1 Moderate Drought conditions. No additional changes were seen over the remainder of the month with rainfall near to slightly below normal.

October began with D2 Severe Drought conditions across most of Carlton County outside of the far northeastern corner where D1 Moderate Drought was in place. Just the far southwestern corner of southern St. Louis County was in D2 Severe Drought as well. With the update on the 3rd, the southwestern corner of Carlton County was removed from D2 Severe Drought before all of southern St. Louis and Carlton counties were removed from D2 Severe Drought with the update on the 10th, leaving conditions ranging from none to D1 Moderate Drought. No additional changes of D2 Severe Drought or worse were then seen over the remainder of the month with rainfall around 1 to 2 inches below normal.

October began with D2 Severe Drought conditions across northern Pine County with D1 Moderate Drought across southern Pine County. With the update on the 3rd, most of northern Pine County was removed from D2 Severe Drought before all of county was removed from D2 Severe Drought with the update on the 10th, leaving conditions ranging from D0 Abnormally Dry to D1 Moderate Drought. No additional changes of D2 Severe Drought or worse were then seen over the remainder of the month with rainfall within an inch of normal.