Updated on Thursday, September 6, 2012
The next planned update will be in October.
Drought conditions as of September 4. Extreme /D3/ drought conditions expanded across most of northeastern Wyoming and western South Dakota. This includes areas south of Highway 212 in South Dakota and areas south of Interstate 90 in northeastern Wyoming. Severe /D2/ drought conditions are located across a portion of northwestern South Dakota, mainly south of Highway 20 and north of Highway 212. The rest of northwestern South Dakota, north of Highway 20 to the North Dakota State Line, was classified as moderate /D1/ drought conditions.
The outlook for September indicates a greater chance of above average temperatures with equal chances of average, above average, and below average precipitation. Average September high temperatures are in the lower to middle 70s with average low temperatures in the middle to upper 40s. Average precipitation for September is one to two inches.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, streamflows over the past 28 days are below normal. Some smaller creeks and streams have begun to dry up.
The table below shows reservoir percent of average capacity on September 6 according to the Bureau of Reclamation (USBR).
|Reservoir||Percent of Normal||Feet from Full|
|Belle Fourche||40%||16.1 ft|
Fire Weather Outlook
Fuels were classified as critical in most areas across northeastern Wyoming and western South Dakota. The seasonal significant wildland fire potential outlook for September shows above normal significant fire potential across South Dakota and northern Wyoming. Significant fire potential is the likelihood that a wildland fire event will require mobilization of additional resources from outside the area in which the fire situation originates. Contact your local county officials for the latest burning restrictions.
Questions or Comments
If you have any questions or comments about this drought information please contact,
Drought Focal Point
National Weather Service
300 East Signal Drive
Rapid City South Dakota 57701
The drought monitor is a multi-agency effort involving NOAA's National Weather Service (NWS) and National Climatic Data Center, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), state and regional center climatologists, and the National Drought Mitigation Center. Information for this statement has been gathered from NWS and Federal Aviation Administration observation sites, state cooperative extension services, USDA, USBR, and USGS.