Drought Conditions Improve but Still Remain in Rochester, SE Minnesota

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- Last weekend’s heavy rainfall made a significant dent in the Rochester area’s ongoing drought. 

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That’s according to Thursday’s update of the U.S. Drought Monitor. Rochester saw its heaviest rainfall in more than a year last weekend, with nearly three inches of rain being recorded at the Rochester Airport, according to the National Weather Service. 

See Also: Rain Further Delays Project in Downtown Rochester

The updated drought monitor indicates the rainy weekend wiped out exceptional drought conditions that covered nearly all of Mower County, more than three-quarters of Fillmore County and portions of Houston and Freeborn Counties. 

Despite the welcomed rainfall, drought conditions do remain in the Rochester area. Olmsted County remains in a severe drought while most of Houston, Fillmore, Freeborn and Mower Counties are still experiencing extreme drought conditions. 

Statewide extreme drought conditions are infesting just over 8% of Minnesota. That’s down from more than 26% last week. 

The percentage of Minnesota dealing with severe drought conditions dropped from 64% last week to just under 47% this week. All of the state remains abnormally dry through the final week of September. 

Most of the arrow-head and a large swath or western Minnesota along a small portion of Washington County in eastern Minnesota are the only areas in the state not reporting any drought conditions.