By DJ Kayser, filling in for Douglas:
Despite the recent rain, drought continues to grow across the state. The latest Drought Monitor shows that about 18.7% of Minnesota is under moderate drought, mainly across north-central Minnesota from Detroit Lakes and Bemidji over to Duluth, with an additional small area in place around Luverne in southwest Minnesota. These areas have been 1 to 2 inches below average rainfall over the past month.
If you’re going out leaf peeping to end MEA weekend, the northern half of Minnesota is at or past peak. according to the DNR, with the southern half nearing it. A good portion of northern Wisconsin is also near or at peak, according to Travel Wisconsin. Mainly sunny skies are expected across much of the state Sunday, with highs around 60 degrees along the Minnesota River Valley and 50s elsewhere.
A few showers are possible Monday and Tuesday, but the rest of the week into next weekend looks dry. Models show a larger storm potentially affecting the Upper Midwest toward the end of the month, but it would be warm enough for all rain.
