LA CROSSE, Wis. – A succession of quick heavy storms eased the drought in southeast Minnesota and western Wisconsin, according to the National Weather service. As much as three inches fell from Winona into parched cropland in Buffalo, Trempealeau and Jackson counties on the Wisconsin side of the Mississippi River. The storms, however, were short of soakers to address wide swaths of drought. Although precipitation was intense, it was sucked up right away by thirsty surface soil.
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