PIERRE, (KCCR) — Drought has expanded its grip on South Dakota. This week’s update of the U-S Drought Monitor for the state shows a massive expansion of abnormally dry areas across the state. Abnormally dry areas have moved up the Missouri River Valley and is not 79-percent of the state. Drought free areas declined seven-percent to 21-percent. Extreme drought grew three-percent; severe one-percent and moderate two-percent. Extreme drought is now making up 15-percent of Jackson County. The county is now 100-percent under moderate drought, up 15-percent from last week. Abnormally dry areas in Sully County expanded42-percent to 100-percent and Potter County is now also fully in abnormally dry conditions. Last week Potter County was only 32-percent abnormally dry. Abnormally dry conditions expanded 80-percent in Dewey County. Stanley County is now 100-percent abnormally dry, up 13-percent from last week. In Jones County, moderate drought increased 44-percent in the last week.
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