Drought conditions are almost always thought about during hot, dry summers. But droughts can occur when there is little precipitation in any form over a long period of time, so that's led the National Weather Service to declare much of Northeastern Lower Michigan in a severe drought.

The National Weather Service in Gaylord shared the following on social media in late January, 2025:

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While not often thought about during the winter, drought conditions continue to expand across northern Michigan....with parts of the area now categorized as severe drought. Lack of any significant winter storms is the culprit, with much of the snow this winter of the lake effect variety. Hopefully we can get some much needed more widespread precipitation before the spring green-up season begins.

READ MORE: These Are the National Weather Service Offices That Forecast All of Michigan's Weather

A drought map of the state shows that a swatch of the Lower Peninsula from north of Ludington to Alpena as well as a run from Mount Pleasant to the Thumb to be the the severe drought range.

NWS Michigan Drought Map January 2025
National Weather Service
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Much of the reminder of the Lower Peninsula is in the Abnormally dry (Detroit region) or moderate drought (Western Lower). Only the area around Muskegon has no drought conditions.

Across the Upper Peninsula, the northern lake effect snow belt counties have no drought conditions while the southern counties along the Wisconsin border are dry to approaching moderate drought conditions.

[EDITOR'S NOTE: The photos that accompanies this article is a generic image of drought conditions and not a current photograph of Michigan.]

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