(PIERRE, SD) — South Dakota’s drought continues with this January ending as one of the driest on record. Looking at the latest conditions, the drought monitor is changing very little. There’s been a significant lack of snowfall so far this winter.
Pretty much the entire eastern side of the state has seen 50 percent or less of the normal amount. Sioux Falls remains as low as 18 percent and Rapid City is just only over 60 percent. For east central and southeast districts of South Dakota, it’s the 126th driest January ever out of 133 years of records.
The lack of moisture could be a cause for concern for the state if precipitation doesn’t pick up headed into warmer months.