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Wednesday, Mar. 26, 2025

Is the entire state of South Dakota in a drought?

Megan Luther, South Dakota News Watch
yes

As of March 18, 2025, 100% of South Dakota is under drought conditions with 42% of the state under severe or extreme drought.

During the same time last year, 11% of the state was experiencing drought with no areas under severe or extreme drought. 

Each week, federal government drought experts check several variables including precipitation, temperatures, soil moisture, water levels in streams and lakes and snow cover to determine drought conditions. 

Experts predict that South Dakota drought conditions will persist for at least another month. 

With dry conditions and high wind gusts, the fire danger index has repeatedly been listed this season as very high for both eastern grasslands and the Black Hills area. 

While 37% of the U.S. is suffering from drought conditions, no other state is completely drought-ridden like South Dakota.

Currently, 55% of North Dakota is under a drought.

See a full discussion of this at South Dakota News Watch

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.

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