The Dueling Dry Spells of 2024

Precipitation totals for the year may have been predominantly above the 1991-2020 averages across Minnesota, but 2024 began on a very dry note, with mounting precipitation deficits through middle-late March. A prolonged wet spell followed, punctuated by eight days of intense precipitation and flooding during June. After somewhat more "normal" hydroclimatic conditions during the rest of summer, another intense dry spell took hold during September and much of October.

In the Twin Cities, which has precipitation records back to 1871, these dry spells included two of the longest periods without measurable precipitation on record. The first was from February 16 through March 20, or a total of 34 days. This became the second-longest such period on record. St. Cloud went 35 days without measurable precipitation, and Milan, in western Minnesota, had a 34-day streak as well.  

A second prolonged period without measurable precipitation, from September 20 through October 23, also lasted 34 days in the Twin Cities, thereby tying the late-winter period for the second-longest on record. in Milan, the streak began two days earlier, lasting a total of 36 days.

Below are the ten longest streaks without measurable precipitation in the Twin Cities, from 1871 through 2024.

 

Longest Streaks Without Measurable Precipitation on Record in the Twin Cities

Updated December 17, 2024
KAB