In southwestern Minnesota, soils are very dry throughout the rooting zone. Most other areas of Minnesota have average to moist middle and lower soil layers. However, this year's unique climate regime must be noted when comparing present stream flows to historical averages. In most years at this point of the season, streams are not ice-free, the snow pack is mainly intact, and subsurface and tile drain flows are minimal. All northern Minnesota counties are at or near all-time record low snow depths for this point in the winter.
Many soils are completely free of frost.
This is approximately three weeks ahead of the historical average. Ice conditions elsewhere are deteriorating rapidly. The outlook is based on assumed normal conditions for the remainder of the spring. Drought which begins in the fall season is typically less consequential than drought which begins in the winter, spring or summer. Winter drought can cause desiccation of plants, and winter injury to pasture grasses, winter wheat and alfalfa.