from WeatherTalk, by Mark Seeley, Univ. of Minnesota, Dept of Soil, Water, and Climate:
The U.S. Drought Monitor map for May 7, 2013, shows Minnesota’s drought to be lessening due to a wet spring. (Source: http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/)
“The south-central and southeastern climate divisions of Minnesota are off to a record start in 2013 in terms of precipitation. For south-central Minnesota observers the average total precipitation received through the first 4 months of the year (Jan-Apr) is 11.17 inches, surpassing the previous record wet first four months from 2001 (10.27 inches). For southeastern Minnesota observers the first four months of 2013 show an average precipitation amount of 13.80 inches, surpassing the previous record wet starting four months from 2001 (10.50 inches). These amounts have restored the flow of many watersheds, raised lake levels, and replenished soil moisture. In fact tile lines are reported to be running in some area soils.
“The weekly drought update continues to show improvement for much of the Minnesota landscape. Early in the spring up to 84 percent of the landscape was classified to be in severe or extreme drought. As of May 7th that area has shrunk to just 15 percent, as some areas of the state have seen precipitation values for the year exceed normal by 3 to 5 inches. Some southwestern Minnesota counties remain in severe drought.”