Tuesday rains fell for fortunate parts of the state, but largely missed others. It was a familiar story. This summer, drought has left some dusty pockets of the state crying out for precipitation, while others have had adequate rainfall.

Federal officials say more than 80 percent of Minnesota is abnormally dry. A week ago it was less than two-thirds. The new drought map includes the northern half of the Twin Cities area. But southern Minnesota is the state's most parched region.

The driest parts of Minnesota were soaked with three or four inches of rain last week. The wet spring has helped make up for the driest autumn on record and a winter of meager snowfall. State officials now say soil moisture is adequate over 89 percent of Minnesota.

Most of southern Minnesota and part of the arrowhead are experiencing severe drought, and all of the state is unusually dry. A lack of snowfall is only making things worse.