The latest U.S. Drought monitor shows drought areas have expanded in South Dakota and so has the drought severity. SDSU Extension Climate Field Specialist Laura Edwards says warm and dry conditions the last month drove a rapid increase and now nearly 40-percent of the state is in drought, with six-percent in extreme drought.
She says the northeast is also suffering. Waubay had the driest June in more than 60 years with only .75 inches of rain and several other stations were also exceptionally dry.
Edwards says above normal temperatures in June just compounded the problem. Edgemont and Hill City recorded the warmest temperatures seen in more than 30 years, and 15 climate stations ranked June among the top five driest on record
She says the outlook for July shows an increase in the likelihood of warmer than average temperatures, while the precip outlook indicates equal chances of being wetter, drier or near average.
