Minnesota drought continues to worsen

A drought affecting most of Minnesota continues to worsen, with almost all of northeastern Minnesota now in the extreme drought category.

Extreme drought is the second-worst of the four drought categories. An area of exceptional drought, which is the worst level of drought, continues to stretch from northeastern Koochiching County across the Red Lake area of Beltrami County and into the Red River Valley.

Thursday’s U.S. Drought Monitor update says more than 96% of Minnesota remains in drought.

"Low streamflow in rivers in Minnesota remained a problem this week. In some areas of northeast and southwest Minnesota that didn’t see much or any rain this week, extreme drought widened its footprint," the weekly report said.

The weekly report is released each Thursday, based on data from two days earlier.

The drought almost follows the Minnesota-Wisconsin border, with just 23% of Wisconsin in drought. Parts of northwestern Wisconsin along Lake Superior and the Minnesota border are in a moderate drought.

LINK: U.S. Drought Monitor