Minnesota, 2023

Drought in Minnesota, October 1 to 31, 2023

October 1 to 31, 2023 · NWS ARX · 2 events in 2 counties and zones

Long-standing abnormally dry conditions, comprised of 8 to 10 inches below normal rainfall from June through September, abated in parts of southeast Minnesota through October. The improvement in conditions was due to multiple storms providing 1 to 2 inch above normal monthly rainfall totals.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 2 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
2

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS ARX wrote it up.

Long-standing abnormally dry conditions, comprised of 8 to 10 inches below normal rainfall from June through September, abated in parts of southeast Minnesota through October. The improvement in conditions was due to multiple storms providing 1 to 2 inch above normal monthly rainfall totals. As a result, severe drought (D2) weakened to moderate drought (D1) for parts of southeast Minnesota by the end of October.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

2 drought. Local standard time, as filed.

Drought, Olmsted

When
October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 31, 6:00 AM CST
Where
Olmsted forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
44.004, -92.402 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ongoing abnormally dry conditions, consisting of 13 consecutive weeks of at least severe drought (D2), improved across Olmsted County through October. From initial severe drought (D2) issuance on July 4th to October onset, near 10 inches of total rain fell, which was 2 to 6 inches below normal for the time period. Multiple storms through October provided 3 to 5 inches of rainfall, which was up to 2 inches above normal. As a result, extreme (D3) and severe drought (D2) abated across Olmsted County by the end of October.

Drought, Dodge

When
October 1, 12:00 AM CST to October 31, 6:00 AM CST
Where
Dodge forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
44.023, -92.862 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ongoing abnormally dry conditions, consisting of 13 consecutive weeks of at least severe drought (D2), improved across Dodge County through October. From initial severe drought (D2) issuance on July 4th to early October onset, up to 10 inches of total rain fell, which was near 4 inches below normal. Multiple storms through October provided 3 to 5 inches of rainfall, approximately 2 inches above normal. As a result, extreme (D3) and severe drought (D2) abated across Dodge County by the end of October.

What these are

Drought
A drought reaching severe (D2) or worse on the US Drought Monitor, or with notable impacts.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Minnesota in 2023Every state in 2023This day in weather historyWarnings in Minnesota, October 2023

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1143372, 1143377.