A dry fall has reduced soil moisture across Michigan and left an estimated 4 million Michigan residents in areas of drought or near-drought across the Lower Peninsula, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.

On Sept. 18, the National Weather Service in Grand Rapids said drought conditions in the Lower Peninsula had expanded because of the lack of rain.

"All of this is adding up to the most significant drought we've had in the area since 2012," the NWS in Grand Rapids said on X.

In June, 26.83% of Michigan was experiencing drought or abnormally dry conditions. That now stands at 56.4%.

According to the NWS, most of the Lower Peninsula is experienced below-normal rainfall from Aug. 16 to Sept. 15.

"Much of the Lower Peninsula has only had about two-thirds of normal precipitation tota

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