ST. PAUL — Minnesota’s drought conditions continue to improve.

According to the latest numbers from the U.S. Drought Monitor, drought is now affecting less than a quarter of Minnesota.

Since last week, the percentage of Minnesota in drought dropped by nearly half — from about 45 percent to 23 percent, according to the drought monitor, which released its latest drought map Thursday. The percentage of the state in a severe drought dropped from about 13 percent to about 7 percent over the week.

Minnesota has not seen this little drought since July 2012.

Dry conditions persist in much of Minnesota, however. Not counting areas in drought, about 57 percent of the state is abnormally dry, including parts of the north Twin Cities metro.