Jul 21, 2006 1:03 am US/Central
Minnesota Drought Becomes 'Severe' In Parts
St. Paul (AP) ―
The drought is getting worse in parts of Minnesota.
The National Drought Mitigation Center now considers parts of Minnesota to be in a "severe" drought.
Midweek rains missed the driest parts of the state, where there's still a deficit of anywhere from three to five inches of rain.
Assistant State Climatologist Pete Boulay says a large part of Minnesota has gone from moderate to severe drought conditions.
He says it's roughly an area from northwest Minnesota extending along the Mississippi River down to the Twin Cities and into northwest Wisconsin.
Boulay says the severe drought designation means water shortages and water restrictions are becoming more likely.
Parts of the Dakotas are much drier, with conditions rated as extreme to exceptional.
On the Net:
National Drought Mitigation Center
(© 2006 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
