Drought Information Statement for 
NE Minnesota & NW Wisconsin 
Valid February 14, 2025
Issued By: NWS Duluth, MN
Contact Information: 
Next Update: Friday, March 14, 2025

Severe Drought remains unchanged in north-central Minnesota. 

U.S. Drought Monitor

Drought intensity and Extent
D2 (Severe Drought): Western Iron Range and Leech Lake area.

D1 (Moderate Drought): Nearly all of the rest of the Northland.

D0: (Abnormally Dry): Along the International Border, in the St. Croix River Valley, and Cook County. 

Recent Change in Drought Intensity

Drought Worsened: Not Applicable.
 
No Change: All of the Northland.

Drought Improved: Not Applicable. 

Precipitation
Regional precipitation in the past month ranges +- 0.5 inches from normal across the Northland.

Temperature

Temperatures on average have been 1 to 4 degrees F below normal over the past month.

Summary of Impacts

Hydrologic Impacts 
Streamflows are running below to near normal for northeast Minnesota and near normal for northwest Wisconsin (USGS Streamflow). With ice cover, many gauges are affected by ice this time of year.  

Agricultural Impacts
Below (northwest Wisconsin primarily) to normal (much of northeast Minnesota) soil moisture (Soil Moisture)

Fire Hazard Impacts
Fire danger is Low for north-central and northeast Minnesota (MN Fire Danger). Fire danger is also Low for northwest Wisconsin (WI Fire Danger).

Other Impacts
Unknown at this time.

Mitigation Actions
Burn Restrictions - No burn restrictions. 

Hydrologic Conditions and Impacts

Northeast Minnesota - Streams are running below normal to normal in northern Minnesota.

Northwest Wisconsin - Streams are running around normal in northwest Wisconsin

Agricultural Impacts
Below (northwest Wisconsin primarily) to normal (much of northeast Minnesota) soil moisture

Fire Hazard Impacts
Significant Wildland Fire Potential conditions are normal for March.

Rapid Onset Drought Outlook
No rapid onset drought expected. 

Long-Range Outlooks
The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage
Longer-term forecasts show a slight chance of below normal temperatures for the end of February.

Longer-term forecasts show a slight chance for above normal precipitation for the end of February.

Drought Outlook
The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage
Drought is expected to improve and/or end across much of the Northland into the Spring.