PIERRE, (KCCR) — Western South Dakota continues to see increasing drought conditions. Areas of severe drought in far western South Dakota increased three-percent this week. Moderate drought increased by two percent. Areas of no drought and abnormally dry have not changed remaining at 72-percent and 27-percent respectively. In central South Dakota everyone remains drought free except parts of Dewey and Ziebach County. Dewey County is 52-percent abnormally dry while Ziebach County is 37-percent. The largest increase in drought area this week was in Fall River County going from zero to 66-percent severe drought. Custer County saw severe drought increase to 36-percent. Severe drought is being noted in Fall River, Custer, Pennington, Harding and Butte Counties. Heavy rain fell across central parts of South Dakota and Nebraska last week, but fell in areas where conditions were already moisture heavy. All of the dry conditions in South Dakota are confined to areas west of the Missouri River and along the state’s western border.
