Rainfall remained below normal for most of northeastern Minnesota through the month of August keeping much of the region in D2 Severe Drought or higher. Rainfall deficits of 1 to 2 inches for the month were common, although areas from the Brainerd Lakes area northward to the International Falls area saw near to above normal precipitation thanks to a more active pattern at the end of the month. However, with year-to-date deficits still in excess of 3 to 6 inches, drought conditions persisted. Additionally, this was the warmest summer on record in Duluth and the lack of rainfall led to Lake Superior falling below normal levels for the first time since 2014.

Drought in NORTHERN ITASCA, MINNESOTA
From 01-AUG-21 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-21 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

The northern part of the county began the month with a mix of D3 Extreme Drought across the far northwestern corner of the county with D2 Severe Drought across the remainder. Little rainfall during the first two weeks of the month led to the upgrade of the remainder of the northern part of county to D3 Extreme Drought on the 17th. Moderate to heavy rainfall during the last week of the month brought the monthly rainfall total to near to slightly above normal levels, but with seasonal deficits in excess of 3 to 6, no improvement in the drought was seen.

Drought in CROW WING, MINNESOTA
From 01-AUG-21 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-21 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

The county began the month with a mix of D3 Extreme Drought across the northern half of the county with D2 Severe Drought across southern part. Little rainfall during the first week of the month led to the upgrade of the southwestern corner of the f county to D3 Extreme Drought on the 10th. Moderate to heavy rainfall during the last week of the month brought the monthly rainfall total to near to slightly above normal levels and led to most of the county improving of D2 Severe Drought by the end of the month with only a small sliver of D3 Extreme Drought in the northeastern corner.

Drought in NORTHERN AITKIN, MINNESOTA
From 01-AUG-21 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-21 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

D2 Severe Drought was in place across most of northern Aitkin County at the start of the month and was quickly upgraded to D3 Extreme drought for areas along and west of the Mississippi River with the update on the 3rd. Little rainfall during the first two weeks of the month led to the upgrade of the remaining portion of the northern part of county to D3 Extreme Drought on the 24th. Moderate to heavy rainfall during the last week of the month brought the monthly rainfall total to near to slightly above normal levels but was unable to make a dent in the D3 Extreme Drought.

Drought in SOUTHERN AITKIN, MINNESOTA
From 01-AUG-21 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-21 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

The southern part of the county began the month with D2 Severe Drought across the majority of the area. Moderate to heavy rainfall during the last week of the month brought the monthly rainfall total to near to slightly above normal levels and led to the southeastern corner of the county improving to D1 Moderate Drought by the end of the month.

Drought in CENTRAL ST. LOUIS, MINNESOTA
From 01-AUG-21 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-21 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

The central part of the county began the month with D2 Severe Drought across the entire area before D3 Extreme Drought spread into the eastern portion of the area by the 3rd. Little rainfall during the first few weeks of the month led to D3 Extreme Drought spreading into more of the area with D2 Severe Drought holding on in the southeastern corner as of August 17th. The pattern continued for the remainder of the month and rainfall totals for the month ended up 1 to 2 below normal. D3 Extreme Drought spread across the remainder of central St. Louis County on the 24th and persisted through the end of the month.

Drought in SOUTHERN ST. LOUIS / CARLTON, MINNESOTA
From 01-AUG-21 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-21 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

The area began the month with D1 Moderate Drought across almost the entire area outside of a sliver of D2 Severe Drought in southwestern St. Louis County. Little rainfall during the first few weeks of the month led to D2 Severe Drought spreading into more of the area with D1 Moderate Drought holding on in the southeastern corner of Carlton County as of August 17th. An area of moderate to heavy rain worked across southeastern Carlton County towards the end of the month while rainfall remained below normal elsewhere. There was minor improvement in southern Carlton County because of this, but southern St. Louis County and northern Carlton were upgraded to D3 Extreme Drought on August 24th. Locations from Duluth to just west of Two Harbors remained in D2 Severe Drought along with central Carlton County.

Drought in SOUTHERN LAKE, MINNESOTA
From 01-AUG-21 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-21 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

The month began with D2 Severe Drought across most of the area along with an area of D1 Moderate Drought in the Two Harbors area. The dry pattern persisted through the month and D2 Severe Drought spread across the remainder of the area by August 17th and then D3 Extreme Drought by August 24th.

Drought in SOUTHERN COOK, MINNESOTA
From 01-AUG-21 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-21 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

The month began with D2 Severe Drought across the entire area. Little rainfall during the last week of July led to D3 Extreme Drought spreading across much of the area with the August 3rd update. The dry pattern persisted through the month and D3 Extreme Drought spread across the remainder of the area by August 24th except for the northeastern corner of Cook County which remained in D2 Severe Drought.

Drought in SOUTHERN CASS, MINNESOTA
From 01-AUG-21 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-21 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

The southern part of the county began the month with a mix of D3 Extreme Drought across most of the southern part of the county with D2 Severe Drought in the far southern part. Little rainfall during the first week of the month led to the upgrade of the remaining part of the southern part of county to D3 Extreme Drought on the 10th. Moderate to heavy rainfall during the last week of the month brought the monthly rainfall total to near to slightly above normal levels and led to the southern part of the county improving of D2 Severe Drought by the end of the month.

Drought in KOOCHICHING, MINNESOTA
From 01-AUG-21 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-21 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

The county began the month with a mix of D3 Extreme Drought across the northwestern half of the county with D2 Severe Drought across the southeastern half. Little rainfall during the first week of the month led to the upgrade of the northwestern third of the county to D4 Exceptional Drought on the 10th. D3 Extreme Drought then spread across the remainder of the county with the August 24th update. Moderate to heavy rainfall during the last week of the month brought the monthly rainfall total to right at normal levels, but with seasonal deficits in excess of 3 to 6, no improvement in the drought was seen.

Drought in SOUTHERN ITASCA, MINNESOTA
From 01-AUG-21 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-21 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

The southern part of the county began the month with D2 Severe Drought conditions. Little rainfall during the first two weeks of the month led to the upgrade of the southern part of the county to D4 Exceptional Drought on the 17th. D3 Moderate to heavy rainfall during the last week of the month brought the monthly rainfall total to near to slightly above normal levels, but with seasonal deficits in excess of 3 to 6, no improvement in the drought was seen.

Drought in NORTHERN CASS, MINNESOTA
From 01-AUG-21 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-21 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

The northern part of the county began the month with a mix of D3 Extreme Drought across the southwestern two-thirds of the northern part of the county with D2 Severe Drought across the northeastern corner. Little rainfall during the first two weeks of the month led to the upgrade of the remaining third of the northern part of county to D3 Extreme Drought on the 17th. Moderate to heavy rainfall during the last week of the month brought the monthly rainfall total to near to slightly above normal levels and led to the southwestern half of the northern part of the county improving to D2 Severe Drought by the end of the month.

Drought in NORTHERN ST. LOUIS, MINNESOTA
From 01-AUG-21 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-21 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

The northern part of the county began the month with a mix of D2 Severe Drought bordering a large area of D1 Moderate Drought. Little rainfall during the first two weeks of the month led to D2 Severe Drought spreading across the remainder of the northern part of the county with the August 17th update. Moderate to heavy rainfall during the last week of the month brought the monthly rainfall total closer to normal levels, but with seasonal deficits in excess of 3 to 6, no improvement in the drought was seen and the area moved into the D3 Extreme Drought category starting on the 24th.

Drought in NORTHERN COOK / NORTHERN LAKE, MINNESOTA
From 01-AUG-21 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-21 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

The month began with D2 Severe Drought across the entire area. Little rainfall during the last week of July led to D3 Extreme Drought spreading across much of the area with the August 3rd update. The dry pattern persisted through the month and D3 Extreme Drought spread across the remainder of the area by August 24th except for the northeastern corner of Cook County which remained in D2 Severe Drought. The dry conditions also led to the explosive growth of a large wildfire north of Two Harbors in Lake County and reached 26,000 acres by the end of the month.