WINONA, Minn. – The southeast Minnesota extreme drought has spread to nine counties. This with rainfall half the normal amount this summer. There also is extreme drought in a150-mile swath across central counties e from Cloquet to Wadena. The extreme conditions also extend into adjacent counties in Iowa and Wisconsin. How fast is the drought spreading? The weekly National Weather Service drought monitor says 10% of Minnesota is in an extreme drought – up from less than 2% a week earlier.
New drought map. On a six-point scale, red indicates Stage 5 extreme drought. Lesser levels: Stage 2, Yellow, abnormally dry; Stage 3, tan,, moderate drought; and Stage 4, orange, Stage 4, severe drought.
