Here's Why Your Lawn is Looking So Dry in Minnesota Right Now

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If it's seemed a little dry in these parts lately, you're right-- and a major portion of Minnesota is experiencing drought conditions right now.

Can you remember the last time it rained here in southeast Minnesota? I think you have to go back to the Sunday of the Memorial Day weekend, on May 30th, to find the last time Mother Nature gave our lawns and plants a good drink.

Since then, though, it's been dry. And hot, as we experienced last week when temperatures topped out in the upper 90's, if not even higher. (The thermometer in our backyard hit 101 last Thursday.) Both of those things have combined to expand drought conditions throughout the U.S. and specifically here in Minnesota.

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According to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor, 27 percent of the Midwest is in drought status right now. But it's even higher here in the North Star State, where 46 percent of the Land of 10,000 Lakes is experiencing drought conditions right now.

National Drought Monitor/Brian Fuchs, National Drought Mitigation Center

And according to MPR Meteorologist Paul Huttner, that's not good news for any of us in Minnesota, especially farmers who just got their crops in the ground a few weeks ago. "While the drier weather was advantageous for planting, crops are showing early season stress as a result of the dryness and warmer temperatures. Some farmers are worried that without rain, there will be a reduction in yield," Huttner noted.

Plus, the extended drought conditions have made things dry (like our lawns) across much of Minnesota, which means there's a greater threat of fires. "Michigan and Minnesota have been dealing with an increased risk for wildfire for a couple of months now, and as a result, burn bans have been in place in some areas since early April. Just this past week, there were two wildfires in Superior National Forest in northern Minnesota," Huttner said.

Relief could be on the way next week, however. The updated NOAA forecast shows the likelihood of cooler temperatures with above-average precipitation for Minnesota in the next 8 to 14 days. Hopefully, we'll get some much-needed rain. Though, as we all know, you can't control Mother Nature, right? In fact, keep scrolling to check out some of the worst weather disasters that have happened right here in Minnesota throughout the years!

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11 of the Most Devastating Weather Disasters in Minnesota Throughout The Years

We might be full of lakes and "nice" but Minnesota has had its fair share of horrible and nasty weather. Throughout the years we've had floods, fires, storms that have crushed stadium roofs flat, and tornadoes that have destroyed lives.