Minnesota remains in 'warning' phase despite worsening drought

Mississippi River drops below critical threshold for drought measures

Aug 06, 20210

Brian Peterson - Star Tribune count

Minnesota is heading deeper into drought. Lawns are brown and water levels in rivers, lakes and creeks are dropping. Here, the creek between Lake Harriet and Minnehaha Creek was drying up in late July.

Despite widespread severe drought across the state, Minnesota cities won't have to cut water use further, at least for now.

The state Department of Natural Resources (DNR) said Thursday that it wants to see if rain forecast for this weekend provides any relief before moving Minnesota from a "warning" phase into the more dire "restrictive" phase that would demand more extreme reductions in water use.

Minnesota experienced worse drought conditions in 1988 and the 1930s, state climatologist Luigi Romolo told reporters following the second meeting of the Minnesota Drought Task Force Thursday.

https://www.startribune.com/minnesota-remains-in-warning-phase-despite-worsening-drought/600085287/