Recent Rains Bring Much Needed Drought Relief To South Dakota

PIERRE, (KCCR) — May has been a rainy, dreary month, but it has done wonders for improving drought conditions across South Dakota. The moisture has created two areas of no drought. One is in the northwest central part of the state including northwest Ziebach County. The second area runs from the Potter/Faulk County line and southwest into northern Tripp County, through parts of eastern Sully, central Hughes and Lyman and far southeast Stanley County. Statewide no drought areas grew 11-percent while abnormally dry areas fell 22-percent. Moderate drought fell 24-percent, severe drought six-percent and extreme drought to less than one-percent. Hughes County is now 64-percent drought-free and 35-percent abnormally dry. Stanley County is currently in 26-percent moderate drought in the north; 90-percent abnormally dry and nine-percent drought free. An area of moderate runs from northern Stanley County into much of Dewey County.