PIERRE, (KCCR) — The reemergence of abnormally dry conditions across central South Dakota a few weeks ago has been eliminated in this weeks update of the U-S Drought Monitor for South Dakota. Only two counties in our area have any sort of drought listed and very little at that. Hand County is unchanged this week with 18-and-a-half percent of the county abnormally dry and the remaining 81-and-a-half percent drought free. Brule County not only eliminated any remaining moderate drought but significantly cut back on D-0 drought. Abnormally dry conditions were reduced by 41-percent to only six-percent in the southeast part of that county. There are no West River counties under any drought conditions. Severe drought continues to linger in seven counties along and west of the I-29 corridor from Brookings to Canton and west to the Salem area. Four-percent of South Dakota is in severe drought with 13-percent in moderate drought and 25-percent abnormally dry. Nearly 75-percent of the state is drought-free.
