Ionia County among Michigan regions facing severe drought conditions

• Nearly half of Michigan is experiencing moderate to severe drought conditions.
• The National Weather Service predicts above-normal precipitation across the country in the coming days.

Nearly half of Michigan is currently in a moderate or severe drought, according to the latest data from the National Drought Mitigation Center and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

In the Lower Peninsula, just four counties are experiencing normal conditions. In the UP, nine counties, mostly to the east and north, are seeing normal conditions.

The rest of the state is either "abnormally dry" or in moderate to severe drought, according to data from the National Drought Monitor released Thursday, March 27.

"With a band of snow cutting across the Midwest on March 19-20, followed by some additional precipitation, there were targeted improvements to the drought depiction, mainly from Iowa to Michigan," wrote Brad Rippey of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Denise Gutzmer with the NDMC in the drought summary.

"However, some areas farther north and south saw drought deterioration, most prominently across southern Missouri."

The researchers noted the National Weather Service outlook for April 1-5 calls for above-normal precipitation nearly nationwide.

Here's a closer look at conditions in Michigan.

What are the drought conditions for Michigan?

Conditions in Michigan have improved slightly from the previous report released March 20. A week ago, just 23.37% of Michigan was under normal conditions, which has improved to 27.41%. Current conditions include:

• Abnormally dry: 28.9%
• Moderate drought: 32.28%
• Severe drought: 11.42%
• Extreme/exception drought: 0%

What were conditions the previous week (March 18):

• Abnormally dry: 27.56%
• Moderate drought: 28.55%
• Severe drought: 20.53%
• Extreme/exception drought: 0%

Have conditions improved or gotten worse since 2024?

Here's how Michigan looked a year ago:

• Not dry: 26.32%
• Abnormally dry: 52.68%
• Moderate drought: 17.84%
• Severe drought: 3.16%
• Extreme/exceptional drought: 0%

What counties are not under drought conditions right now?

• Keweenaw
• Luce
• Schoolcraft
• Cheboygan
• Baraga
• Chippewa
• Mackinac
• Emmet
• Charlevoix
• Antrim
• Delta
• Alger

What counties have only slight drought impacts?

• Cheboygan: 4.13% abnormally dry
• Marquette: 9.28% abnormally dry
• Menominee: 37.23% abnormally dry
• Kalkaska: 55.75% abnormally dry
• Houghton: 0.3% moderate drought, 8.61% abnormally dry
• Otsego: 1.78% moderate drought, 33.8% abnormally dry

Where are drought conditions worst?

Alcona and Midland counties are 100% under severe drought conditions. Other counties with severe drought conditions include:

• Isabella: 98.28%
• Bay: 97.64%
• Gratiot: 94.87%
• Huron: 72.98%
• Gladwin: 70.94%
• Iosco: 64.88%
• Montcalm: 62.05%
• Saginaw: 35.56%
• Clinton: 34.93%
• Arenac: 30.9%
• Ionia: 30.83%
• Tuscola: 25.9%
• Ogemaw: 25.21%
• Mecosta: 20.72%
• Clare: 19.49%
• Oscoda: 18.34%
• Presque Isle: 9.45%
• Sanilac: 1.48%