- Parts of Michigan is in the worst drought since 2012, with rainfall well below normal and river levels falling
- Cities like Grand Rapids, Detroit, Lansing and Traverse City have all recorded major precipitation shortfalls this year
- Meteorologists say it will take multiple widespread rain events to restore soil moisture and river flow
If you’ve noticed more dust swirling at construction sites, lawns struggling to grow or trees dropping leaves ahead of schedule, Michigan’s lingering drought is likely to blame.
The state is facing its worst drought in more than a decade, with much of the Lower Peninsula parched after months of below-average rainfall. The region has seen only about two-thirds of its normal precipitation since January, leaving rivers running low, according to the National Weather Service.
Parts of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula are in the midst of “the most significant drought since 2012,” the NWS in Grand Rapids said this week, with conditions ranging from moderate to severe.
For farmers, the dry conditions are hitting hard, stressing crops and raising concerns about lower yields and tighter margins heading into harvest season.
‘Abnormally dry’
Rainfall has been far below normal in several cities…