Drought Conditions in the High Plains Region - Update August 30

This past week some areas in the High Plains Region received some much needed rain improving conditions. Other areas in the Region were not so fortunate and had conditions worsen. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, areas in Kansas and extreme southeast Nebraska saw rain totals of 4 inches or more. These rains helped improve the drought conditions in those areas by one full category. In areas of southwestern Wyoming, western North Dakota, and western South Dakota drought conditions continued to worsen. Overall, 88.07% of the Region is experiencing moderate drought (D1) or worse. Due to the substantial rains, the area of exceptional drought (D4) in the Region now totals 14.97%, a 1.23% improvement from last week. Wyoming saw an increase in area of about 13.5% in extreme drought (D3) or worse. In North Dakota conditions continue to worsen. Much of the state in now in an abnormally dry (D0) condition or worse and expansion of D1 is taking place in the southwestern portion of the state. To learn more about the U.S. Drought Monitor, please see: http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu

In South Dakota, dry conditions in the southwestern portion of the state have expanded the area of D3. The total area of D3 in the state is 26.44%, an increase of almost 8.5% from last week. The area of D3 is highest the state has seen since the summer of 2006. In Sioux Falls, SD water restrictions are now in place as the Big Sioux River is flowing at less than 50cfs.

Check out the table below for the drought conditions over the past month for South Dakota. For more on the drought situation in South Dakota check out this site:  http://drought.sd.gov/

To view more statistics of the High Plains Region and each state check out the Tabular Statistics here: http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/DM_highplains.htm  

                      Drought Condition (Percent Area): South Dakota