MINNESOTA, USA — The dry September is a far cry from the record rain the state had to start the summer and that has caused stress on Minnesota's trees.
Experts say trees are having a difficult time with weather whiplash.
Lee Frelich is the director of the Center for Forest Ecology at the University of Minnesota. He says trees are all too familiar with change lately, and it’s not good.
"In the abnormally mild winter, no snow on the ground, which meant cold soil temperatures and freezing roots," said Frelich.
Then came the heavy rain in the Spring and Summer. Frelich said for a while, trees were benefiting from the excess water.
But at some point, it was too much for most trees.
"Some trees actually went from extreme drought stress to having their roots waterlogged," said Frelich,
Not to mention the countless storms that damaged branches and leaves.
Frelich said there are fewer opportunities for leaves to photosynthesize because of damaged leaves. Now, trees are showing signs of drought stress.
"We're into a flash drought, at least from the point of view of a tree," said Frelich.
"September for MSP will be the driest on record," said Jamie Kagol, KARE 11 Meteorologist.
Kagol said the state is drying out, but conditions aren't severe.
"The drought monitor is showing indications of some drought coming back the lowest levels of drought," said Kagol. "Some areas are just abnormally dry. Some are just experiencing minor drought right now."
But says trees are responding differently than the drought monitor may indicate. It's more about the number of days trees go without rain.
"I'm really worried about the future of trees in Minnesota with these extremes," said Frelich. "If we have five or six more years like this, people would notice major changes in forests."