Most of Minnesota — 88 percent — is in moderate drought, a dramatic expansion from 6 percent a week ago, says the Drought Monitor. Record-high temperatures accelerated dryness. Precipitation in Minnesota is 2.5-3.5 inches below normal since Oct. 1. “Precipitation deficits … are below the 75th percentile in most of the area,” said the Monitor, referring to Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Nebraska. Soil moisture levels in Nebraska are 2-3 inches below normal. Much of Nebraska, the Dakotas and Wisconsin is rated as abnormally dry, one step away from drought.
The northern Plains and upper Midwest include major wheat, corn and soybean states. Minnesota often ranks fourth in corn and soybean output. North Dakota was the No. 1 wheat state last year and Nebraska is usually No. 3 in corn.
Some 34.7 percent of the contiguous 48 states is in drought, up 3 points in a week. California, Nevada, Utah and Arizona had their warmest winters on record this year. Warmer than usual weather is forecast for the West through the end of March.
The spring forecast from the National Weather Service says rainfall will be below normal in the upper Midwest, particularly in northern Minnesota and northern Wisconsin, but above normal in the South. Warmer than normal temperatures are forecast for the West and for North Dakota, the northern half of South Dakota, most of Minnesota and the northern half of Wisconsin.