Drought in Houston, Minnesota

Severe (D2) to extreme (D3) drought persisted across the southern half of Houston County through November. The combination of total monthly precipitation near 0.25 inches, near 2 inches below normal, and anomalously warm temperatures for several days according resulted in 30% below normal topsoil moisture across Houston County.

Areas of severe (D2) and extreme (D3) drought in southeast Minnesota along the Iowa border remained unchanged through the month of November. While October monthly rainfall totals were near or slightly above normal, the long-standing abnormally dry conditions comprised of total rainfall of 15 to 20 inches from April 1 to October 31st was 9 to 12 inches below normal. During November, only 1 to 3 days of measurable precipitation provided under 0.25 inches of total rainfall, as much as 2 inches below the monthly normal. While the growing season was all but over, multiple days of above normal temperatures, 10 to 25 degrees above normal, inhibited the ground from freezing. The drought remained unchanged through November as southern Mower, Fillmore, and Houston counties experienced persistent severe drought (D2), with extreme drought (D3) conditions right along the Iowa border.