PIERRE — Drought conditions across South Dakota are moving in two directions in this week’s update of the U-S Drought Monitor for the State. Areas of no drought have expanded in western South Dakota. No drought now makes up over 98-percent of Jackson County from two-percent last week. Haakon County is now 55-percent in no drought while Ziebach County dropped to 24-percent from 33-percent last week. Drought is expanding on the eastern side of the state. An area of moderate drought has developed in northeastern Hughes, central and western Sully and parts of Dewey, Potter and northern Stanley Counties. Moderate drought has also expanded into southern Hand and Hyde and all of Buffalo County. Severe drought has also grown including into eastern Buffalo and Brule Counties. Parts of Lyman, Mellette and Tripp Counties remain in moderate drought. Two small areas of moderate drought remain in the western corners of the state.
