Drought Continues South Dakota Eastward Expansion

PIERRE, (KCCR) — After little change the last few weeks, Thursday’s update of the U-S Drought Monitor continues to show drought in the state not getting any better. Mellette County saw the largest worsening of drought last week. An area of severe drought has been established in central Mellette and Todd Counties. Mellette went from zero to 35-percent in the last week. Ninety-seven-point-eight percent of Mellette County is now under at least moderate drought. Moderate drought has increased by 11-percent in northeast Dewey County. Jackson County is now at 97-percent under moderate drought with only the northeast corner abnormally dry. Areas of abnormal dryness have entered northern Hand and Hyde Counties. Areas of extreme drought are being noted in Pennington and Custer and Harding and Butte Counties. Statewide, no drought areas fell 10-percent to only 30-percent of South Dakota. Abnormally dry grew by 10-percent to 69-point-eight percent. Moderate and severe drought increased by two-percent and one-percent to 36 and 12-percent respectively. Severe drought is unchanged at only one-point-three percent of South Dakota.