Minnesota drought conditions improve following recent rain

(FOX 9) - Much of Minnesota is still technically in a drought despite recent record-breaking rain this week, but conditions have improved. 

READ MORE: Minnesota rainfall totals: How much rain fell this week?

Minnesota drought persists, but conditions not as severe

Big picture view:

Data from the U.S. Drought Monitor shows that almost half of the state, 45.72%, is under abnormally dry conditions, which is the least severe drought category.

Moderate drought conditions are impacting 24.92% of Minnesota, while 2.86% of the state is currently facing severe drought, according to the drought monitor. 

This is an improvement over conditions reported just last week, when 35.55% of the state was under a moderate drought and 24.52% was experiencing a severe drought. 

Rainfall total since Monday

The backstory:

Rain began falling on Monday and is finally wrapping up Thursday morning, leaving behind impressive rainfall totals across Minnesota, especially for November.

The multi-day system also broke several daily rainfall records across the state. 

The Twin Cities recorded 0.66 inches of rain by 7 p.m. Tuesday, breaking a 56-year-old daily rainfall record for Nov. 3. In northern Minnesota, Hibbing recorded 2.18 inches of rain Monday, shattering its previous daily record of 0.53 inches set in 1992, according to the National Weather Service.

The Source: This story uses information from the U.S. Drought Monitor and the FOX 9 weather forecast.