Current Conditions across South Dakota:

(Updated Oct 4, 2007)

Extreme drought continues to be observed in southwest South Dakota.  Severe drought conditions are occurring in southwest S.D. and now areas of eastern S.D.  Most of the state now is at least abnormally dry.

ENSO Update: La Nina conditions are currently in place over the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean.  This often leads to persistent periods of high pressure ridging centered over the central portion of the U.S. during the normal warm season.  Historically, drought and high temperatures occur in the Rockies and Plains of the U.S.

WEEK 1 OUTLOOK (8/17-8/23)

The cool Canadian air mass looks like it will brush by the Dakotas today with a warming trend starting again by tomorrow as a high pressure ridge moves into the Dakotas from the west.  Above normal temperatures are expected from Saturday through Tuesday until the next significant cold front arrives by next Tuesday, the 21st.  The best chances for precipitation during this period is later today and tonight, and then behind the cold front next week - Wednesday and Thursday.  

Overall, temperatures should average above normal with precipitation averaging near normal.

WEEK 2 OUTLOOK: (8/24-8/30)

Behind the next Tuesday's cold front, temperatures should trend cooler than normal and be at or below normal for much of the period.  Some warming to above normal levels by the end of the period (the week of the 27th) as a ridge tries to move east from the West Coast.  The best chances for rainfall for the week 2 period look to be in the active part of the period with a trough in the plains during the Wednesday through Saturday period next week.  Overall, expect temperatures to average normal to below normal and precipitation to average a bit above normal.

Normal temperatures for:  Rapid City = 55/85, Pierre = 58/87, Sioux Falls = 57/85.