– Share of state experiencing drought conditions (20-year average): 14,131 sq. mi. (24.3% of land area); 2,152,533 people (21.8% of population)

— Moderate drought: 4,601 sq. mi. (7.9% of land area); 608,679 people (6.2% of population)

— Severe drought: 1,070 sq. mi. (1.8% of land area); 90,620 people (0.9% of population)

— Extreme drought: 73 sq. mi. (0.1% of land area); 1,577 people

— Exceptional drought: zero sq. mi.; no people

Michigan missed the drought conditions seen in other parts of the country in 2020, but almost half the state is missing out on precipitation in 2021. A researcher at Michigan State University is studying the prospect of extreme droughts worldwide, and has daunting news.

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