Northern Minnesota’s Drought Situation Just Improved Dramatically

Mother Nature is playing catch-up after a very long and dry summer in the Northland. The National Weather Service in Duluth is reporting a new record rainfall for two cities in Northern Minnesota.

Duluth tied its old record from 1880 for receiving 1.02" of rain. International Falls had a new record of .69" on Wednesday, and Hibbing had over 1.21", which is also a new record.

Besides the record rainfall, it was also the warmest low temperature in Duluth and Brainerd (47 degrees and 48 degrees).

The rain has been desperately needed, as we've been under a severe drought across the Northland since this spring. As of Thursday, November 5th, Northern Minnesota has been updated to a moderate drought, or abnormally dry near the Canadian border.

US Drought Monitor

Just a couple of weeks ago, I was driving by Pike River Falls in Tower, Minnesota, and the river was a trickle. This video from Tower Cafe shows the falls (Also known by locals as Rootbeer Falls) now raging. That's good news because it feeds into Lake Vermilion which had low water levels this summer.

If you're heading north to hunt this weekend, be sure to pack your knee-high boots. Swamps and streams are filling up, and it's going to be a damp weekend even if there isn't rain in the forecast!