A cool pool

Summer heat, summer drought

July 14, 2006

A summer heat wave and a continuing lack of rain in the area are putting stress on residents of the Upper Midwest.

  • Area braces for a scorcher
    The Upper Midwest will roast this weekend with temperatures that could push 100 degrees, and health officials are urging people to take the heat seriously.July 14, 2006
  • Hot weather fuels BWCA fire
    Gov. Tim Pawlenty travels to northeastern Minnesota Sunday to check on a fire that's burning in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area.July 16, 2006
  • Fires continue burning in BWCA
    A fire in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area, the largest in years, continues to spread. It now threatens to force some property owners off their land.July 17, 2006
  • We're having a heat wave
    Minnesota is hot and getting hotter. Temperatures in the Twin Cities are expected to stay in the 90s for at least the next five days. The current dry spell is also predicted to continue through the weekend. What should Minnesotans do to weather the heat wave?Midday, July 12, 2006
  • South Dakota fields look like winter in July
    Farmers and ranchers from central and western part of state are angry about the fifth year in a row without a crop due to drought. They're selling off livestock because there's no grass to graze. Gov. Mike Rounds asked for disaster declaration for 20 counties and the federal government said farmers could cut hay and graze cattle on land set aside for conservation programs.July 14, 2006
  • Drought called 'catastrophic' for region's farmers
    Farmers and ranchers in the Dakotas and western Minnesota are facing their fourth and fifth year of abnormally dry weather. U.S. Sen. Sen. Tim Johnson of South Dakota calls the recent dry spell in the region "catastrophic."July 10, 2006
  • Rain needed across much of the region
    Drought has settled in across parts of the Dakotas, and dry conditions threaten Minnesota crops.July 5, 2006
  • Low levels in Minnesota rivers affecting water quality
    Many Minnesota rivers and streams are approaching dangerously low levels because of the recent hot and dry weather. Some experts are worried those conditions are already affecting water quality.July 17, 2006
  • Dry conditions hit some crops hard
    Minnesota crops suffered more damage last week as hot, mostly dry conditions dominated the weather. The weekly crop report says corn has been especially hard hit.July 18, 2006
  • BWCA fire: Watching the winds, hoping for rain
    Strong winds fanned flames and threatened the homes and businesses along northeast Minnesota's Gunflint Trail Wednesday, as a large forest fire continued to grow near Seagull Lake. The Cavity Lake fire has burned more than 20,000 acres. While parts of the state saw much-needed rain Wednesday, the Boundary Waters got little.July 19, 2006
  • A closeup view of the BWCA fire
    The forest fire sweeping through parts of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness is cause for concern to visitors and residents of the area. Several people who live near the Gunflint Trail captured the fire in some dramatic photos from the south shore of Seagull Lake.July 19, 2006
  • Quick storm wets roads and fields but crops need more rain
    Fast-moving thunderstorms rolled across the region dropping rain in some areas and teasing others with just a few drops. Dry farm fields and rivers and streams still need more rain.July 19, 2006
  • BWCA firefighters dig in for long haul
    On the edge of the Boundary Waters, firefighters breathed a sigh of relief Thursday as the Cavity Lake Fire grew only slightly. But they're digging in for a long stay.July 21, 2006
  • Upbeat but vigilant at Cavity Lake
    Officials leading the fight against the Cavity Lake fire in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness offered residents some good news Friday, and some words of caution.July 21, 2006
  • Living near fire zones
    The fires in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area worry some who live on the Gunflint Trail. Midmorning looks at how fires are fought, how forests are managed and whether people should reconsider living near areas prone to burning.Midmorning, July 21, 2006
  • Poor spring wheat harvest may mean higher bread and cereal prices
    The harvest of winter wheat is just finishing up and combines will move over to the spring wheat harvest this week or early next. Farmers expect $5 per bushel this year. That's up $1.50 over last year. Consumers are seeing an increase in the grocery store but the reason for that might surprise you.July 23, 2006
  • Firefighters make progress on BWCA fire
    Firefighters continued to make good progress on the Boundary Waters Canoe Area wildfire, as they were helped by continued moderate weather.July 24, 2006
  • After the fire
    From a distance, much of the land affected by the Cavity Lake wildfire looks like it's burned to a crisp. But even in the blackened areas, life is not only surviving, but thriving.July 26, 2006
  • Fighting fire with a drop of the bucket
    Mike Rynerson has spent the past 12 days dropping water on the Cavity Lake fire. He uses a UH 60 Black Hawk helicopter to scoop water from nearby lakes and drop it on the fire.July 26, 2006
  • Drought forces ranchers to make tough decision
    Drought conditions in northwest Minnesota and the Red River Valley are hurting farmers and ranchers. The dry weather isn't just damaging crops and reducing yields, it also has some ranchers selling off cattle.July 25, 2006
  • Parts of Minnesota are in an "extreme" drought
    The National Drought Mitigation Center says much of the northern half of Minnesota is now in an "extreme" drought. That's worse than last week's designation of a "severe" drought. Conditions aren't likely to improve anytime soon.July 27, 2006
  • Christmas in July
    The recent heat and lack of rain is taking a toll on Minnesota's Christmas tree farms.July 28, 2006
  • Coping with highs around 100
    High temperatures and drought continue across the region, putting a strain on the farmers, the power grid and the people of the Midwest.Midday, July 31, 2006
  • The hottest day yet
    The state climatology office called Monday's heat the capper to the most sweltering July since the Dust Bowl era, with temperatures hovering around 100 degrees.July 31, 2006

MPR News
Radio

Listen Now

On Air

BBC World Service: Newsday

Schedule

Shortcuts
Hourly Newscast
Hosts
Station Map

Other Radio Streams from MPR

Classical MPR
Radio Heartland

Services

Become a sponsor

In The Spotlight