The latest U.S. Drought Monitor shows Minnesota’s conditions worsening. Minnesota hasn’t been this dry in at least eight years. Since U.S. Drought Monitor began in 2000, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Senior Climatologist Kenny Blumenfeld says extreme drought conditions have only happened twice in Minnesota. “The most recent was in 2012 and 2013. Prior to that, drought conditions from 2006 and 2007. In both cases, that level of drought was more widespread and has lasted longer than what we’ve seen so far, but this drought is still developing.” Northwest Minnesota has some of the hottest weather in the state this year. “There was a period in June where temperatures were above 100 degrees, in some cases for multiple days. The drought started early in northwest Minnesota and it’s been more persistent. At this time, NOAA has dry weather forecasted to continue in the fall.”
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