Drought — Houston, Minnesota

2024-03-01 to 2024-03-31 · Houston, Minnesota

Event narrative

Near to slightly below normal monthly total liquid precipitation of 1 to 2 resulted in recession of severe (D2) drought from most of far southern Houston County through March.

Wider weather episode

Ongoing abnormally dry conditions slightly eased in southeast Minnesota through March. From initial drought issuance on June 1st, 2023 to March onset, near 15 of total liquid precipitation was more than 9 below normal in drought affected areas in far southeast Minnesota. As a result, persistent extreme (D3) drought affected southeast Minnesota along the Iowa border at the onset of March. Most of the month's total liquid precipitation of 1 to 3 fell in a one week period from March 21st through March 27th. Precipitation totals that week were 2.27 in Austin (Mower County), 2.26 in Rochester (Olmsted County), 2.03 in Winona (Winona County), and 1.86 in Preston (Fillmore County). As a result, the extreme (D2) drought area retreated south but severe (D2) drought conditions persisted in these same areas along the Iowa border.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1165861. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.