Much of South Dakota remains under drought conditions, according to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor released Thursday.
The weekly report shows just over 70 percent of the state is experiencing drought, ranging from abnormally dry to extreme drought, with the most severe conditions concentrated in parts of southern and southwestern South Dakota. No areas are currently classified as being in the highest category of exceptional drought.
Officials attribute ongoing dryness to below-normal precipitation and above-average spring temperatures, raising concerns for agriculture, water supplies and wildfire risk as the growing and fire seasons begin. Precipitation is being forecasted through the weekend for a good portion of western South Dakota including parts of Pennington, Custer, Fall River and Oglala Lakota counties which are currently experiencing extreme drought conditions.
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