Minnesota Drought Improving

Recent snow and rain have improved drought conditions in some parts of Minnesota.

The latest U.S. Drought Monitor map released Thursday shows that just over 83 percent of the state is in moderate drought and  over 99-point-nine percent of the state is still abnormally dry or in some form of drought. 

But the area affected by severe drought dropped to just over 46 percent, down from 51 percent the week before. 

Drought conditions in central and southern Minnesota improved the most after both regions received a significant amount of precipitation last week.

Parts of northwest, south-central, and southeast Minnesota have been getting rainfall since Halloween.

A swath of the state from the northeast across northern Minnesota and along the western border is experiencing severe drought conditions.