PIERRE — Consistent rains continue work on snuffing out drought in central South Dakota. This week’s update of the U-S Drought Monitor across central South Dakota shows mainly areas of slight improvement. Moderate drought has replaced severe drought across much of Haakon County. Severe drought remains, mainly along the Cheyenne River Valley in norther Haakon and Stanley and southern Ziebach and Dewey Counties. Abnormally dry conditions replace moderate drought this week in Jones and southern Stanley Counties extending into the Midland and Stamford areas of Haakon and Jackson County. Drought has been upgraded this week to moderate across much of Mellette County with abnormally dry conditions along the White River. Severe drought remains in place in the far southeast tip of South Dakota and new this week, a pocket of severe drought in southern Charles Mix County.
