FARGO, NORTH DAKOTA — While much of the central United States cashed in on beneficial rainfall over the past seven days, several pockets stretching from North Dakota through Missouri and Illinois were largely skipped over, according to a 7-Day Observed Rainfall analysis valid through 5:00 AM on August 3, 2026. Forecasters have flagged Fargo, Sioux Falls and areas near St. Louis and Cincinnati as the clearest “have not” zones on the map.
Northern Plains Corridor Sees Some of the Lowest Totals
A long stretch running from near Bismarck and Fargo northeastward toward International Falls and Thunder Bay recorded some of the lowest seven-day rainfall totals in the region, generally falling in the 0.4 to 0.9 inch range while surrounding areas saw considerably more. This corridor, circled in red on the observed rainfall map, represents one of the driest stretches over the past week despite widespread beneficial rain elsewhere.
Forecasters say this area, along with parts of northwest Iowa and southeast South Dakota, will need continued monitoring as these pockets dry out further relative to the surrounding region.
Sioux Falls and a Corridor Near St. Louis Also Missed Out
A separate “have not” pocket circled on the map surrounds Sioux Falls, where totals also came in noticeably lower than the heavier 2 to 4.5 inch totals recorded across much of Nebraska, Iowa and Minnesota during the same period. Farther east, two additional circled zones stretch from near Topeka through St. Louis and continuing toward Cincinnati and Charleston, marking corridors that missed out on the widespread heavier rain that fell across much of the surrounding Midwest and Ohio Valley.
By contrast, many areas surrounding these pockets, including much of Illinois, Wisconsin and Michigan, recorded totals well above 3.25 inches, with some spots exceeding 5.75 inches over the seven-day period.
Continued Monitoring Needed as Dry Pockets Persist
With most of the surrounding region benefiting from widespread rainfall, the isolated “have not” corridors across the Northern Plains, northwest Iowa, southeast South Dakota and pockets near St. Louis and Cincinnati stand out as areas of concern. Forecasters say these zones will need to be watched closely in the coming days to see whether they continue drying out relative to their surroundings…