1 min read

Climatologist Says January-March In SD Was Driest On Record

BROOKINGS, S.D. (AP) — The South Dakota state climatologist says dry conditions will likely stick around in the near future, but there’s hope for more rain in the long-term outlook put out this week by the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration.

Dennis Todey says that statewide, January through March was the driest on record, and the month of March was the second-driest on record.

He says the new U.S. Drought Monitor map shows moderate drought areas expanding across northern, western and far eastern South Dakota, and nearly 66 percent of the state is now covered by moderate drought conditions.

Todey says the longer range outlooks from NOAA for May and the summer are somewhat more optimistic.