Drought Information Statement for Northeastern Wyoming and Western South Dakota 
Valid October 3, 2024
Issued By: National Weather Service Rapid City, SD
Contact Information:  nws.rapidcity@noaa.gov
This product will be updated in November 2024, or sooner, if drought conditions change significantly.  
Please see all currently available products at https://drought.gov/drought-information-statements.
Please visit https://www.weather.gov/unr/DroughtInformationStatement for previous statements. 
Please visit https://www.drought.gov/drought-status-updates for regional drought status updates.
Extreme (D3) Drought to Abnormally Dry (D0) Conditions extend across all of northeastern Wyoming and most of western South Dakota.

Hot temperatures continue to exacerbate drought conditions.

U.S. Drought Monitor
Link to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor for northeastern Wyoming and western South Dakota
Drought intensity and Extent

D4 (Exceptional Drought): None occurring.

D3 (Extreme Drought): Portions of Weston, Campbell, Crook, far western Pennington, and western Harding Counties.

D2 (Severe Drought): Portions of counties along the Wyoming/South Dakota border, northwestern South Dakota and south central South Dakota.

D1 (Moderate Drought): Portions of Perkins, Butte, Meade, Pennington, Lawrence, Custer, Oglala Lakota, Jackson, Haakon, Bennett, Mellette, Todd, and Crook Counties.

D0: (Abnormally Dry): the rest of western South Dakota.

Precipitation: Last 30 Days
Below normal precipitation the past 30 days across northeastern Wyoming and western South Dakota. 

Some pockets of above average precipitation across the western South Dakota plains, but not enough to help drought conditions. 



Link to the High Plains Regional Climate Center.
Temperature: Last 30 Days
Above average temperatures were reported across all of northeastern Wyoming and western South Dakota. 


Summary of Impacts
Links: See/submit Condition Monitoring Observer Reports (CMOR) and view the Drought Impacts Reporter
Hydrologic Impacts 
Most streams and rivers are much below normal to near normal for this time of the year. Additional information from the USGS may be found here. 

Agricultural Impacts
USDA Crop Progress and Condition reports:  South Dakota and Wyoming. 

Fire Hazard Impacts
Black Hills National Forest Enters Stage II Fire Restrictions.
Please visit Great Plains Fire Information for the latest fire restrictions.

Other Impacts
Current 100- and 1000-hr fuels are very dry and herbaceous fuels continue to cure. 

Mitigation Actions
“None reported” 

Hydrologic Conditions and Impacts
USGS 7-day average streamflow HUC map compared to historical streamflow for the day of the year.  

River Basin
7-day Average Streamflow
Powder
Below Normal to Normal
Little Missouri
Below Normal
Belle Fourche
Below Normal
Grand
Much Below Normal
Moreau
Normal
Cheyenne
Below Normal to Normal
White
Below Normal to Normal
Keyapaha
Normal

Agricultural Impacts
USDA Crop Progress and Conditions Reports for South Dakota and Wyoming.

Fire Hazard Impacts
The significant wildland fire potential outlook for October is above normal to normal for October.







Great Plains Fire Information
Fire Information for Resource Management System
Hazard Mapping System Fire and Smoke Product
South Dakota Grassland Fire Danger Map


Link to Wildfire Potential Outlooks from the National Interagency Coordination Center.

Rapid Onset Drought Outlook
The 8 to 14 day U.S. Hazards Outlook valid from October 12 through 18 indicates a rapid onset drought risk is present for south central South Dakota. 

Links to the latest Climate Prediction Center 8 to 14 day Temperature Outlook and Precipitation Outlook.

Long-Range Outlooks
The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage
There is a greater chance for above average temperatures to continue in October.

Odds favor below average precipitation for all of October.


Drought Outlook
The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage
Drought conditions are expected to persist over northeastern Wyoming and western South Dakota.

Drought conditions will likely develop over south central South Dakota. 
Links to the latest:
Climate Prediction Center Monthly Drought Outlook 
Climate Prediction Center Seasonal Drought Outlook