Weekly Drought Update
Key Messages in this Update
- Drought situation:
- As of July 13, 2021, 98% of the state is in Moderate Drought (D1) or worse, 52% is in Severe Drought (D2), and 4% is now in Extreme Drought (D3). D2 coverage has increased by 12%.
- With 40% of Minnesota experiencing severe drought, the state has entered the Drought Warning Phase.
- Streamflow situation:
- 21 out of 81 total major surface water watersheds are below their protected flow level (Q90), including five watersheds that dropped below their respective Q90 (minimum flow) this week.
- Fire danger situation:
- As of July 15, 2021, fire danger continues to expand in northern Minnesota.
- Lake Level situation:
- All of the lake levels of the selected lakes decreased from the previous week, from 0.24 to 1.68 inches.
- Six of the 10 selected lakes remain in normal range. Two lakes are low, two lakes are below normal.
Drought Information
Last 2 weeks of Drought Maps:
  Link to the maps: https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/CurrentMap/StateDroughtMonitor.aspx?MN
Drought Analysis:
- Counties in exceptional drought (D4): 0
- Counties in extreme drought (D3): 10
- Counties in severe drought (D2): more than 50
- Counties in moderate drought (D1): All counties have at least some moderate drought or worse.
- Counties just abnormally dry (D0 – not drought): 0
- Estimated population in Drought Areas: 5,212,196
Streamflow Information
Link to the map: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/waters/surfacewater_section/stream_hydro/streamflow_weekly.html
Streamflow Analysis:
- Watersheds at minimum flow (below Q90): 21, including five new watersheds dropping below their respective Q90 this week. This includes the Marsh River (No. 59), Rainy River – Headwaters (No. 72), Vermillion River (No. 73), Rainy River – Rainy Lake (No. 74), and the Little Fork River (No. 76) watersheds.
- Watersheds at low flow: A strong majority of watersheds remain in low flow
- Watersheds at normal flow: 33 watersheds are experiencing normal flow conditions.
- Watersheds at high flows: No watersheds are experiencing high flows.
Fire Danger
  Fire Danger Analysis:
(Fire danger conditions can change daily, based on local meteorological variables. Information presented illustrates a real-time snap shot of current conditions on July 15)
- Counties with Extreme Fire Danger: 0
- Counties with Very High Fire Danger: more than 20
- Counties with High Fire Danger: 14
- As of July 15, 2021, fire danger is very high over northwestern counties and high to very high over central, northcentral and northeastern counties.
- As of July 15, 2021, burning permits are still required in all counties. Burning restrictions are in place in central and northeastern Minnesota.
Lake Water Levels
 Sample Lake Level Analysis
- All of the lake levels of the selected lakes decreased from the previous week, from 0.24 to 1.68 inches.
- Six of the ten selected lakes remain in the normal range
- Two lakes are low and two lakes are below normal.
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