Drought in Minnesota

Events

1,446

Deaths

0

Injuries

0

Damage

$109 million

• Drought in Minnesota, October 1 to 31, 2023$48 million · 8 eventsPrecipitation was between 175 percent and 300 percent of normal across southwest Minnesota during October.
• Drought in Minnesota, September 20 to 30, 2022$31 million · 4 eventsA persistence of above normal temperatures and minimal precipitation maintained or worsened long-term drought conditions.
• Drought in Minnesota, July 6 to 31, 2021$12 million · 3 eventsTemperatures averaged fairly close to normal during July, but precipitation from 50 to 75 percent of normal allowed for the expansion and degradation of drought conditions across southwest Minnesota.
• Drought in Minnesota, August 1 to 31, 2021$5.7 million · 8 eventsTemperatures were slightly above normal during the month. The spatial and temporal distribution of rainfall, with more widespread heavier amounts toward the end of the month, defined drought trends. Overall, conditions improved by month's end.
• Drought in Minnesota, September 1 to 21, 2021$3.3 million · 6 eventsOverall, precipitation near to a little above normal across southwest Minnesota led to the alleviation of areas of severe drought.
• Drought in Minnesota, October 11 to 31, 2022$2.6 million · 2 eventsWhile temperatures were much closer to normal in October, precipitation was generally less than 25 percent of normal, leading to the maintenance of long-term drought conditions.
• Drought in Minnesota, July 1 to 31, 2021$1.6 million · 5 eventsTemperatures averaged fairly close to normal during July, but precipitation from 50 to 100 percent of normal allowed for expansion and degradation of drought conditions across southwest Minnesota.
• Drought in Minnesota, October 1 to 31, 2022$988,000 · 5 eventsWhile temperatures were much closer to normal in October, precipitation was generally less than 25 percent of normal, leading to the worsening of long-term drought conditions.
• Drought in Minnesota, October 6 to 13, 2020$940,000 · 1 eventPrecipitation continued below normal across southwest Minnesota, varying from 50 to 75 percent of normal. Temperatures were well-below normal.
• Drought in Minnesota, September 15 to 30, 2020$825,000 · 1 eventPrecipitation continued well-below normal across southwest Minnesota, varying from 10 to 25 percent of normal. Temperatures were mainly near to slightly below normal.
• Drought in Minnesota, June 8 to 30, 2021$704,000 · 4 eventsTemperatures averaged 5 to 6 degrees above normal, and precipitation varied between 25 and 50 percent of normal during June. This led to degradation in drought status over much of southwest Minnesota.
• Drought in Minnesota, June 22 to 30, 2021$270,000 · 2 eventsTemperatures averaged 5 to 6 degrees above normal, and precipitation varied between 25 and 50 percent of normal during June. This led to degradation in drought status over much of southwest Minnesota.
• Drought in Minnesota, June 15 to 30, 2021$190,000 · 3 eventsPersistent below normal precipitation since February 2021 allowed severe drought conditions to develop across parts of southeast Minnesota, including Mower, Fillmore and Houston Counties. These conditions continued into July 2021 for Mower County.
• Drought in Minnesota, October 1 to 31, 2020$100,000 · 1 eventPrecipitation continued below normal across southwest Minnesota, varying from 50 to 75 percent of normal. Temperatures were well-below normal.
• Drought in Minnesota, April 28 to 30, 201521 eventsPrecipitation amounts from the fall of 2014 going into the winter and spring of 2015 were below normal. For Fargo, ND, the precipitation total for September 2014 through March 2015 was 5.01 inches. Normal precipitation for this period is 9.16 inches.
• Drought in Minnesota, May 1 to 19, 201521 eventsDry conditions continued from late April into early May, resulting a D2 drought designation on the U. S. Drought Monitor. Then a rapid switch from dry to wet occurred. From May 10th through the end of the month, consistent bouts of one to three inch rainfalls occurred.
• Drought in Minnesota, August 1 to 31, 200620 eventsThe average monthly temperatures for August at Baudette and Park Rapids turned out about a degree above normal. No daily high temperatures ever rose above 90 degrees, which was a pretty substantial difference from the hot month of July.
• Drought in Minnesota, July 18 to 31, 200618 eventsWarmer than normal temperatures and a lack of rain both contributed to a D2 drought designation (per the U.S. Drought Monitor) across portions of northwest and west central Minnesota on July 18th.
• Drought in Minnesota, March 1 to 31, 200716 eventsLow amounts of precipitation over the course of March 2007 kept many counties across northwest and west central Minnesota in a D2 (severe) or D3 (extreme) drought designation (per the U.S. Drought Monitor).
• Drought in Minnesota, September 1 to 30, 200716 eventsDuring the first two weeks of September, extreme (D3) drought conditions were reported across portions of Saint Louis, Lake, Cook, Cass, Crow Wing, and Aitkin counties.
• Drought in Minnesota, October 1 to 31, 201216 eventsDry conditions remained over most of the northwest quarter of Minnesota through early October, but then a welcome rain fell across a majority of the area from the 17th through the 19th. Rainfall amounts of one to two inches were common during this time frame.
• Drought in Minnesota, September 1 to 30, 200615 eventsDrought conditions remained across portions of northwest Minnesota, due to below normal rainfall over the summer.
• Drought in Minnesota, December 1 to 31, 200615 eventsExteme drought conditions continued to plague all of northeastern Minnesota this December, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. Most of the region has been in this status since July. Lake Superior was still at its lowest level since 1926.
• Drought in Minnesota, November 1 to 30, 200615 eventsThe drought affecting northeastern Minnesota from the summer through late autumn led to a continuation of D3 (extreme) drought conditions in November, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. Most locations were well below normal for precipitation this month.
• Drought in Minnesota, October 1 to 31, 200615 eventsNortheastern Minnesota continued to be in a D3 (extreme) drought according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.

Drought everywhereEvery kind of event in Minnesota

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 2026-09-24.