Drought is defined as a period of abnormally dry and/or unusually hot weather sufficiently prolonged for the corresponding deficiency of water to cause a serious hydrologic imbalance.
When a serious hydrologic imbalance occurs, soil moisture reserves, groundwater supplies, lake levels and stream flows are negatively impacted. Water-dependent industries including agriculture, public utilities, forestry, and tourism are profoundly affected.
Careful stewardship of Minnesota's water resources is always important. During drought, water resources are particularly stressed and water conservation measures are especially important.
See the latest Drought Conditions Report.
Drought Impacts
- Drought impacts in forests and rangelands (US Forest Service and Dept of Ag)
- NWS Streamflow Conditions and Predictions
- USGS Real-Time Streamflow Conditions
- DNR/MPCA Real-Time Streamflow Conditions
- DNR Weekly Streamflow Conditions
- Weekly Crop Weather Report
- DNR Wildfire Information Center
- DNR Lake Level Monitoring
- Lake of the Woods and Rainy Lake Water Levels
- USGS Real-Time Ground Water Levels
- DNR Water Use Monitoring
- U of M Extension
- U of M Extension Crop News
- Minnesota Cities
Drought Monitoring
- U.S. Drought Monitor
- U.S. Drought Monitor Explained
- Drought Risk Atlas
- Daily Radar-Based Precipitation Estimates
- Daily Precipitation Tables and Maps
- NWS Streamflow Conditions and Predictions
- USGS Real-Time Streamflow Conditions
- Midwest Climate Watch
- DNR Hydrologic Conditions Reports
- National Integrated Drought Information System
- North American Drought Monitor
- Mark Seeley's WeatherTalk Commentary
- DNR HydroClim-Minnesota Newsletter
- Weekly Precipitation and Seasonal Departure Maps
- Temperature and Precipitation Tables
- Standardized Precipitation Index
- Palmer Drought Severity Index
- NWS Extended Outlooks
Drought Planning
- Living With Drought
- Minnesota Statewide Drought Plan
- Drought Plan Development History
- Minnesota All-Hazard Mitigation Plan
- Water Conservation
- DNR Surface Water Appropriation Permit Suspension Guidelines
- DNR Protected Flow Defined
- Mississippi River Low-Flow Management
- DNR Well Interference Resolution
- Drought of 1988
- Protecting Public Health During Drought Conditions
- National Drought Mitigation Center
- Climate's impact upon water availability in Minnesota