Dry Spell, July 2003 through April 2004

Last updated: May 5, 2004. The following text and maps will be updated as the situation warrants.

In eight of the ten months from July 2003 through April 2004, precipitation totals in Minnesota fell short of the historical average. For large sections of western and southern Minnesota, precipitation totals were six or more inches below normal over the period (see map at lower left). For a significant portion of southeastern Minnesota, precipitation deficits exceeded eight inches.

When compared with other July through April time periods in the historical database, the July 2003 through April 2004 combined rainfall totals rank among the driest on record for many areas of western and southern Minnesota (see map at lower right). The ten-month totals ranked at or below the 5th percentile in many counties within these regions. A ranking at the 5th percentile indicates that July through April precipitation totals have been lower than July 2003 through April 2004 values in only five out of one hundred years.