MINOT, N.D. (AP) — Snowfall in the region in late February was a welcome sight, falling on parched ground throughout the area. However, much more moisture is needed to alleviate drought conditions that prevail from border to border in North Dakota.

The quarter-inch or less of moisture contained in the heaviest snowfall band along the U.S. Highway 52 corridor fell prior to the input of data for the latest U.S. Drought Monitor. However, given the very dry conditions, impact from the snowfall on the ongoing drought gripping the state is expected to be insignificant and have little or no influence in altering future drought designations.

In their weekly issuance of the Drought Monitor, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration concludes that nearly 68% of North Dakota is rated to be in “severe” drought, up from 58% a week earlier. The remainder of the state, primarily the southeast, remains entrenched in “moderate” drought or “abnormally” dry.

“Even though precipitation is normally low during the fall and winter seasons, it has been extremely dry during the past 3-4 months (less than 25% of normal), leading to a lack of any snow cover in eastern Montana, western North Dakota, and north-central South Dakota,” concludes the Drought Monitor. It added that drought conditions expanded this past week “southward across south-central North Dakota and central South Dakota.”

The weekly assessment was compiled while snow was falling in North Dakota, so this week’s snowfall was not part of the data included in the Drought Monitor. Impact from the snowfall, if any, will be included in the next Drought Monitor.

One of the impacts of a severe drought designation, according to the Drought Monitor, is that “river flow is decreased; stocks dams are low.” Low river and stream levels are normal for North Dakota at this time of year. Nevertheless, indicators remain troublesome.

“We are in water conservation mode,” said Tom Pabian, Upper Souris National Wildlife Refuge manager.

Dry weather can be expected to continue into the early part of March. The region’s 8-14 day precipitation outlook calls for a well below normal chance of moisture through March 10. The 3-month precipitation outlook for March-April-May favors normal precipitation for North Dakota throughout the outlook period.