South Dakota
The U.S. Drought Monitor (USDM) is updated each Thursday to show the location and intensity of drought across the country. This map shows drought conditions across South Dakota using a five-category system, from Abnormally Dry (D0) conditions to Exceptional Drought (D4). The USDM is a joint effort of the National Drought Mitigation Center, USDA, and NOAA. Learn more.
The following state-specific drought impacts were compiled by the National Drought Mitigation Center. While these impacts are not exhaustive, they can help provide a clearer picture of drought in South Dakota.
- Grain and pasture growth is stunted
- Topsoil is dry; grain crop yields decline
- Pasture and water supplies decline; cattle industry is under stress
- Planting begins early; irrigation use increases
- Hay is short; cattle sales are early
- Fire season is extended; fire season is early; grass fires are common
- Row crop loss is significant
- Producers haul water for cattle and provide supplemental feeding; cattle sales increase
- Burn bans begin
- Row crop loss is significant; producers are selling livestock herds, market prices fall
- Epizootic hemorrhagic disease spreads; wildlife populations decline; recreational fishing and hunting are affected
- Extremely low flow and river debris impair navigation of major rivers; commercial barge traffic slows; water use restrictions are implemented
- Grain and pasture growth is stunted
- Topsoil is dry; grain crop yields decline
- Pasture and water supplies decline; cattle industry is under stress
- Planting begins early; irrigation use increases
- Hay is short; cattle sales are early
- Fire season is extended; fire season is early; grass fires are common
- Row crop loss is significant
- Producers haul water for cattle and provide supplemental feeding; cattle sales increase
- Burn bans begin
- Row crop loss is significant; producers are selling livestock herds, market prices fall
- Epizootic hemorrhagic disease spreads; wildlife populations decline; recreational fishing and hunting are affected
- Extremely low flow and river debris impair navigation of major rivers; commercial barge traffic slows; water use restrictions are implemented
- Grain and pasture growth is stunted
- Topsoil is dry; grain crop yields decline
- Pasture and water supplies decline; cattle industry is under stress
- Planting begins early; irrigation use increases
- Hay is short; cattle sales are early
- Fire season is extended; fire season is early; grass fires are common
- Row crop loss is significant
- Producers haul water for cattle and provide supplemental feeding; cattle sales increase
- Burn bans begin
- Row crop loss is significant; producers are selling livestock herds, market prices fall
- Epizootic hemorrhagic disease spreads; wildlife populations decline; recreational fishing and hunting are affected
- Extremely low flow and river debris impair navigation of major rivers; commercial barge traffic slows; water use restrictions are implemented
Drought in South Dakota from 2000–Present
The U.S. Drought Monitor started in 2000. Since 2000, the longest duration of drought (D1–D4) in South Dakota lasted 349 weeks beginning on December 4, 2001, and ending on August 5, 2008. The most intense period of drought occurred the week of October 9, 2012, where D4 affected 32.57% of South Dakota land.
The U.S. Drought Monitor (USDM) is a national map released every Thursday, showing parts of the U.S. that are currently in drought. The USDM relies on drought experts to synthesize the best available data and work with local observers to interpret the information. The USDM also incorporates ground truthing and information about how drought is affecting people, via a network of more than 450 observers across the country, including state climatologists, National Weather Service staff, Extension agents, and hydrologists. Learn more.
The Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) is an index to characterize meteorological drought on a range of timescales, ranging from 1 to 72 months. The SPI is the number of standard deviations that observed cumulative precipitation deviates from the climatological average. NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information produce the 9-month SPI values below on a monthly basis, going back to 1895. Learn more.
Tree rings are used to extend the instrumental record of drought to over 2,000 years. The Living Blended Drought Product (LBDP) is a recalibrated data series of June-July-August Palmer Modified Drought Index (PMDI) values in the lower 48 U.S. states. This dataset blends tree-ring reconstructions and instrumental data to estimate the average summer PMDI values, which extend over 2,000 years in some parts of the U.S. Learn more.
Web Resources for South Dakota
South Dakota State Drought Dashboard
Upper Missouri River Basin (UMRB) Drought Indicators Dashboard
South Dakota Office of Emergency Management
South Dakota Department of Agriculture
2015 South Dakota Drought Mitigation Plan
South Dakota State Climatologist
South Dakota State University Extension
NDMC | South Dakota Drought Planning Resources
USDA Farm Service Agency | South Dakota
National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office | ABR - Aberdeen, SD
National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office | FSD - Sioux Falls, SD
National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office | UNR - Rapid City, SD
Tell us how drought is impacting your community by submitting a condition monitoring report. Your submissions help us better understand how drought is affecting local conditions.