Coming off the driest September in Minnesota history in many parts of the state, a significant change has taken place in the weekly U.S. Drought Monitor.
In the span of a week, the majority of the Twin Cities metro area was reclassified to Extreme Drought – the second-worst drought classification. It should be noted that last year northern Minnesota had a significant section in the worst classification – Exceptional Drought – the first time in the history of Minnesota that any part of the state had been included in that classification.
The change has impacted Wright County as well. As recently as last week, most of the county was in the Abnormally Dry designation. Now none of the county is. The northern two-thirds of the county is in the Moderate Drought category, a swath that includes Otsego, St. Michael, Albertville, Rockford, Howard Lake, Montrose, Waverly and Cokato is now in the Severe Drought designation and the southeast corner of the county that includes Delano, Franklin Township and Woodland Township is now in the Severe Drought category.
To see the map, go the Wright County MN Facebook page or click here: https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/CurrentMap/StateDroughtMonitor.aspx?MN