PIERRE — This week’s update of the U-S Drought Monitor across South Dakota shows a new and worsening level of drought entering the state and central South Dakota. An area of D-3 Extreme drought is now shown through the lower Missouri River valley from the Nebraska border western Bon Homme County to the Lyman County boot heel. Extreme drought is also being noted in southern Aurora, much of Charles Mix, extreme western Douglas and eastern Tripp Counties. The map is mostly the same from last week with severe drought still in place across central South Dakota into northwest South Dakota. A pocket of severe drought is now posted in southern Fall River and Oglala Lakota Counties. No drought remains in most of northeast South Dakota. Moderate drought is seen in southwest and parts of north central and central South Dakota with abnormally dry conditions between no drought and severe drought in the east.
