Drought

Hopefully, the weather pattern changes in the next few weeks to offer up some relief in the form of rain for not only our lawns, plants, and crops but our pocketbooks too.

Remember last summer when we didn't have to mow our lawns for a good portion of the summer? We could be in for another round of that this summer in Minnesota.

Much of Central Minnesota and the upper Midwest dealt with a drought last summer. St. Cloud Mayor Dave Kleis joined me on WJON today. He says we're "out of the woods" in regards to the drought and water shortage.

The summer drought impacted Central Minnesota and that includes St. Cloud. St. Cloud Mayor Dave Kleis says we're back to being in the normal level and are no longer at the emergency level. He says they've been out of the emergency level for quite awhile and the rain we've had in the last couple of months has really helped.

The video, consisting of aerial shots presumably shot by drone, follows the Mississippi River around Brooklyn Park, highlighting basins and channels usually filled with and hidden by water.

The extreme drought that Minnesota finds itself in is impacting more than just lawns and gardens. The severe lack of rain also has an impact on the fall colors.

Meteorologist Megan Moulford joined me on WJON today. She says to alleviate the effects of the drought we would need an inch of rain for three straight weeks. She says who is hit hardest by the drought in Minnesota varies depending on the amount of rain they have received this summer.

Glen Schmitt from Outdoor News joined me on WJON today. He says those planning on doing some duck hunting should do some more scouting because there is more shoreline this year due to the drought. Glen says his normal duck hunting location is filled in with cat tails and lily pads and it may be tough to get a boat into your usual spot.

The drought has gotten worse over the past week in Minnesota.

There is grass growing where the water level should be. Where there should be rolling rapids, there is water that looks almost stagnant.