Drought Expands Across Michigan
The latest U.S. Drought Monitor assessment shows only 21 percent of Michigan's land is free of abnormal dryness or drought.
Updated on Nov. 13, 2026 in Current Conditions
Drought expanded across Michigan in the latest U.S. Drought Monitor assessment released November 12, 2026. Only 21 percent of the state is not in some level of abnormal dryness or drought, down from 37 percent the prior week.
Why it matters
Drought is expanding because of a lack of decent rain, and Michigan residents face a dry stretch heading into winter. Gardeners and homeowners may need to water plants and trees well into December.
The U.S. Drought Monitor's weekly assessment shows only 21 percent of Michigan land is free of abnormal dryness, down from 37 percent last week. Lower Michigan is two to three inches behind normal rainfall over the past month, and it is unclear how much of the deficit winter moisture will offset.
The players
U.S. Drought Monitor
A joint project of the National Drought Mitigation Center, NOAA and the USDA that produces the weekly national map of drought conditions.
The details
All of the Upper Peninsula is at least abnormally dry, and parts of it are in moderate to exceptional drought. Moderate drought now covers all of Saginaw County, most of Genesee County and most of the Thumb, and almost all of Michigan received less rainfall than normal in the past 30 days.
Timeline
Past 30 days: almost all of Michigan received less rainfall than normal.
November 12, 2026: the latest U.S. Drought Monitor assessment was released.
Until the ground freezes: newly planted trees and shrubs should be deep-watered weekly.
Possibly into Christmas week, December 2026: plants may still need watering.
Seasonal Patterns
The U.S. Drought Monitor's weekly series shows Michigan's dry share jumping from 37 percent to 21 percent of land free of drought in one week, a pace that outstrips typical autumn changes. Compared against the Monitor's own historical weekly maps, this shift marks an unusually fast deterioration for early November.
Newly planted trees and shrubs should be deep-watered weekly until the ground freezes, and plants may need watering into December. Residents should keep watering evergreens and young trees, since they could die this winter without enough moisture.
The takeaway
Dry soil heading into winter raises the risk of winter damage to trees and evergreens, so keeping them watered until the ground freezes can help protect them.
Further reading
For more on how dry conditions are developing across the state, see Current Conditions in Michigan.
