Drought is an ordinary and expected part of the climate of any location. However, there are a few measures of drought and often it is difficult to recognize when a drought has begun and when it has ended. In the United States, the Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI)is the most commonly employed measure of drought. Examination of the averages and variability of the PDSI is needed to draw conclusions about the temporal and geographic patterns of drought over Minnesota is to be drawn