The drought conditions that disappeared during the summer are back with a vengeance in Minnesota.

A U.S. Drought Monitor map released Thursday shows that southern Minnesota, including the Twin Cities, is still experiencing a moderate drought. But sections near the South Dakota border, such as Murray County, as well as the northeastern part of the state are in a severe drought.

This is compared to a week ago, where there were no areas in a severe drought.

National Weather Service meteorologist Jake Beitlich said the area started to dry out in September and that there hasn’t been any widespread rain in the last 40 days or so.

“There’s not going to be any rain for the next week,” he said.

As southern Minnesota continues to experience the drought, soil scientist Tom Hoverstad said it’s good weather for harvest.

“So the last six weeks, topsoil moisture is getting very dry, but as far as farmers are concerned, it’s been OK. It makes harvest go quickly,” said Hoverstad, who works for the University of Minnesota’s Southern Research and Outreach Center.

He said the drought hasn’t impacted any growth and development for annual crops as it came on later in the year.

“Not only has it been dry, but it’s been warm, too. We’ve been about 5 to 8 degrees above normal,” he said.

Hoverstad also said the area is still drawing on some of the moisture from this summer’s rain.

“We’re still, even though it’s been very dry the last six weeks, we’re still ahead of normal for the calendar year precipitation wise,” he said.

Beitlich said the mid-October outlook shows above normal temperatures across the region with near slightly below normal precipitation.

“That seems true the last part of October into the first part of November,” he said.

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