Minnesota, the partial drought, and frost depth.

This is some data weather and climate nerds might like. The frost depth this year is as deep as it has been in six years. This could exacerbate the drought in areas of the state where it exists if we get a quick spell of very warm weather and the snow all melts at once, running into the watershed with minimal soil absorption. The worst of it would be in Hubbard, Cass, and Itasca counties, if this situation occurs there. That being said with observation of the NOAA, USGS, NWS long range models, combined with my own recorded observations which I combine in an amalgam with the above sources, it looks like serious drought is not a concern for the coming year. Yes, there may be some dry spells, but overall the forecast looks to average rainfall/soil moisture or things on the higher side and perhaps flooding this spring/early summer. Of course river levels have a large effect on fish movements, quality of fishing, etc. An effect on deer hunting I don’t know, I think with all the lakes, ponds, and rivers up north a deer, turkey, or grouse can always find a drink somewhere. Where this really hits home is the lower portion of the state that was at one time mostly tall grass prairie, and is now mostly turned over dirt. But in the few sections of grass and marsh that remain there you’ll find a most sought after fellow, the rooster ringneck pheasant. A bit on the wet side, a bit on the dry side the bird has no qualms. I just hope for timely warm spring and summer rains, undisturbed grasslands that grow to the birds’ likings, and a glorious fall hunting season in ’25.

Forgot to include the report!

https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/climate/journal/frost-depth-minnesota-winter-2025.html

next door there’s an agronomonist there…….he posted the frost depth is at about 23 inches down in the Waseca area. this was maybe a month ago.

he also is saying down that direction the moisture content in the soil should be good for spring planting……..and this guy gets paid to keep farmers from jumping off the ledge!!

we have a cabin up in Itasca county…..i think the soil moisture is ok at best. the lakes have been extremely low for alot of year…….but twith all the rain last summer they really came up. granted towards fall they dropped quite abit but when we pulled the dock it ws still higher then it was in the spring when we put the dock in.

crawdaddy wrote:

This is some data weather and climate nerds might like. The frost depth this year is as deep as it has been in six years. This could exacerbate the drought in areas of the state where it exists if we get a quick spell of very warm weather and the snow all melts at once, running into the watershed with minimal soil absorption. The worst of it would be in Hubbard, Cass, and Itasca counties, if this situation occurs there. That being said with observation of the NOAA, USGS, NWS long range models, combined with my own recorded observations which I combine in an amalgam with the above sources, it looks like serious drought is not a concern for the coming year. Yes, there may be some dry spells, but overall the forecast looks to average rainfall/soil moisture or things on the higher side and perhaps flooding this spring/early summer. Of course river levels have a large effect on fish movements, quality of fishing, etc. An effect on deer hunting I don’t know, I think with all the lakes, ponds, and rivers up north a deer, turkey, or grouse can always find a drink somewhere. Where this really hits home is the lower portion of the state that was at one time mostly tall grass prairie, and is now mostly turned over dirt. But in the few sections of grass and marsh that remain there you’ll find a most sought after fellow, the rooster ringneck pheasant. A bit on the wet side, a bit on the dry side the bird has no qualms. I just hope for timely warm spring and summer rains, undisturbed grasslands that grow to the birds’ likings, and a glorious fall hunting season in ’25.

looks like Gim…….has cometition!!!!!