Official Says Eastern South Dakota Recovered from Drought

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) - State Climatologist Dennis Todey says recent rains have helped eastern South Dakota recover from the drought, but the soil moisture has not been replenished in much of the western part of the state.

Todey says southwestern South Dakota has received enough rain to keep conditions steady, but not enough to improve the drought situation.

Todey spoke Monday at a meeting of the Governor's Drought Task Force. He says conditions have improved a lot from last year's drought, and he doesn't expect a repeat of last year when rain stopped falling in the middle of summer.

The latest U.S. Drought Monitor shows most of eastern South Dakota is no longer in drought, but much of the western part of the state is abnormally dry or in moderate or severe drought.

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