PIERRE, (KCCR) — It’s yet to be seen what impact rain and snow this week will have on drought across South Dakota, but this week’s update of the U-S Drought Monitor for South Dakota continues to show expansion of dry conditions. Severe level, D-Two drought now fully encompasses Tripp and Brule Counties and takes up 86-percent of Buffalo County. Lyman County is now 62-percent in severe drought with 96-percent in moderate drought. Mellette County increased in severe drought 74-percent from nearly zero last week and is 100-percent in moderate drought. Severe drought is up 55-percent in Jackson County and 91-percent moderate drought; up over 30-percent from last week. Moderate drought expanded 50-percent this week in Jones County and 35-percent in southeast Hughes County. Ninety-three percent of Hughes County is abnormally dry. Moderate drought has also expanded in Hand and Hyde Counties south of U-S Highway 14. Hand County is at 59-percent and Hyde 49-percent. Statewide extreme drought is up 14-percent while severe drought is up seven-percent; moderate drought up nine-percent and abnormally dry is up six-percent. Twenty-one percent of South Dakota is drought-free this week.
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