As our drought deepens, the Minnesota DNR is continuing to monitor surface water levels, with officials saying they will take restrictive action if necessary to protect public water supplies.
The DNR is already asking everyone to reduce their water usage, with 39% of Minnesota now in severe drought and a few spots in extreme and even exceptional drought.
State Climatologist Luigi Romolo says the driest areas haven’t had decent rainfall since mid-May, making the issue even worse as some areas of the state are 6 to 10 inches below where they should be.
“Our ability to make up the shortfall we got over the summer is becoming increasingly difficult,” Romolo said.
Romolo says he’s especially concerned because we’re moving into a drier time of year, which leaves little time for adequate rain to do any good.
He says last year’s drought conditions were erased by last winter’s heavy snowpack and gradual melting, but there’s no guarantee that will happen again this time.
