SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO)– Parts of South Dakota saw some much needed rain KELOLAND Meteorologist Adam Rutt looks at the impact of rain over KELOLAND.
Spring began with a pretty large deficit on the rain gauge, and through most of March and April, we didn’t receive all that much help beyond rather spotty showers and storms. The last few days, however, have been just what the doctor ordered…with steady and beneficial rain in areas that very much needed it.
Gov. Rhoden’s state plane use steady, less out-of-state
Just to illustrate how things evolved, this is what our drought monitor looked like for South Dakota at the start of meteorological spring. At its worst, severe drought conditions were just peeking into southeastern and southwestern South Dakota.
That was then, and this is now. Nearly forty percent of the state is under at least severe drought conditions, with twelve percent in extreme drought conditions.
The last three days saw a lot of beneficial rain, with the lion’s share of it all being seen in southeastern KELOLAND. Some areas south and east of Sioux Falls received as much as two to three inches of rain during this time. To the west, we observed lesser amounts of moisture…whether is was rain or snow…to the tune of a half-inch or less…