Drought Conditions Ease Across Several Regions

Recent rainfall has eased drought conditions in parts of Minnesota, North Texas and the St. Johns River Water Management District in Florida, though some Florida counties remain under stricter water-shortage measures and North Texas still has areas of moderate or severe drought. Minnesota’s share of land classified as abnormally dry fell sharply, while Texas saw drought intensity decline after an exceptionally dry summer that stressed crops and water supplies and heightened wildfire risk. In Florida, irrigation is limited to once weekly during Eastern Standard Time, with additional restrictions continuing in Alachua, Baker and Bradford counties. Separate research suggests rainfall during the second or third month of a multiyear drought can alleviate conditions as efficiently as rainfall in the first month, particularly in drier regions and longer-lasting events. A study of Karnataka’s eastern dry zone also traced four decades of drought patterns, finding variation in frequency, duration and severity across locations and timescales.