Drought — Houston, Minnesota

2024-01-01 to 2024-01-31 · Houston, Minnesota

Event narrative

Severe (D2) drought persisted for most of Houston County through January. While 1 to 1.5 of monthly total liquid precipitation were near normal, long-standing abnormally dry conditions, 6 to 12 below normal since June 1st 2023, resulted in severe (D2) drought persisting.

Wider weather episode

Long-standing abnormally dry conditions from April 2023 through January 2024 resulted in no changes to severe (D2) and extreme (D3) drought for southeast Minnesota in January. From initial severe drought (D2) issuance in June 2023 to the onset of January 2024, 10 to 20 of total liquid precipitation was 2 to 14 below normal. Multiple storms grazed southeast Minnesota through January and resulted in quite variable snow and rainfall totals. Highest monthly snowfall totals of 10 to 15 with a liquid equivalent of 1 to 1.5 fell along the Mississippi River and were slightly above normal. Lowest monthly snowfall totals from 5 to 10 with up to 1 of total liquid equivalent were near to below normal in counties farther west of the Mississippi River. Besides one week of well below normal temperatures, overall monthly temperatures were well above normal, including multiple days of 10 degrees or more above normal. These warm conditions quickly melted the snowpack and perpetuated ongoing soil moisture concerns.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1157295. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.