Drought Information Statement for Northeastern Wyoming and Western South Dakota 
Valid October 17, 2024
Issued By: National Weather Service Rapid City, SD
Contact Information:  nws.rapidcity@noaa.gov
This product will be updated 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.
Exceptional (D4) Drought to Moderate (D1) Drought extend across all of northeastern Wyoming and most of western South Dakota. 

Very warm and windy conditions 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): Portions of southeastern Campbell and southwestern Weston Counties.

D3 (Extreme Drought): Portions of Campbell, Crook, Weston, Harding, Pennington, Custer, Fall River and Mellette.

D2 (Severe Drought): Portions of Crook, Weston, Harding, Perkins, Butte, Meade, Lawrence, Pennington, Custer, Fall River, Oglala Lakota, Jackson, Bennett, Mellette, and Todd Counties.

D1 (Moderate Drought): Portions of Crook, Butte, Lawrence, Meade, Perkins, Ziebach, Pennington, Haakon and Tripp Counties.

D0: (Abnormally Dry): Eastern Portions of Haakon County.

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

A few isolated pockets of above average precipitation across the area, 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 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
Please visit Great Plains Fire Information for the latest fire restrictions.

Other Impacts
The dry, very warm, and windy conditions have caused the area to be very dry.

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
Little Missouri
Below Normal to Normal
Belle Fourche
Below Normal
Grand
Much Below Normal
Moreau
Much Below Normal
Cheyenne
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.











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.

Long-Range Outlooks
The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage
There are equal changes for above, below and near normal temperatures and precipitation in November. 

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.  
Links to the latest:
Climate Prediction Center Monthly Drought Outlook 
Climate Prediction Center Seasonal Drought Outlook