COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – Branch County is now 100 % drought-free following an active winter and a rainy start to spring, according to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor .
The county has officially cleared its moisture deficit, marking the first time since last summer that the area is free of drought or abnormal dryness after a winter with more than 30 inches of snow and over 7 and a half inches of rain since March 1.
The regional recovery extends across most of West Michigan, with approximately 97% of the state now reporting healthy ground saturation levels, which meteorologists describe as a “gift” for the upcoming planting season.
While minor “abnormally dry” pockets persist in parts of the Thumb and Southeast, the National Weather Service predicts that above-normal precipitation will likely continue through mid-April, expected to eliminate the remaining dry spots.
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