South Dakota, 2025

Drought in South Dakota, January 1 to 31, 2025

January 1 to 31, 2025 · NWS ABR · 5 events in 5 counties and zones

Drought conditions persist, with limited improvement, across portions of north-central and south-central South Dakota through the month of January. In north-central South Dakota, the South Dakota State University (SDSU) Mesonet stations near Lantry, Parade, and La Plant recorded only about a quarter-inch of moisture or less.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 5 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
5

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS ABR wrote it up.

Drought conditions persist, with limited improvement, across portions of north-central and south-central South Dakota through the month of January. In north-central South Dakota, the South Dakota State University (SDSU) Mesonet stations near Lantry, Parade, and La Plant recorded only about a quarter-inch of moisture or less. The McLaughlin COOP observer reported just 0.16 inches of moisture for the month. In south-central South Dakota, the Murdo COOP observed 0.57 inches of moisture equivalent from 8.6 inches of snow. However, this was a standout observation, as the SDSU Mesonet station 12 miles south of Vivian recorded only 0.18 inches of moisture, while the station 6 miles south-southeast of Kennebec reported just 0.16 inches.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

5 drought. Local standard time, as filed.

Drought, Corson

When
January 1, 12:00 AM CST to January 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Corson forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
45.709, -101.197 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Dewey

When
January 1, 12:00 AM CST to January 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Dewey forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
45.157, -100.872 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Lyman

When
January 1, 12:00 AM CST to January 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Lyman forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
43.896, -99.847 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Buffalo

When
January 1, 12:00 AM CST to January 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Buffalo forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
44.076, -99.205 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Jones

When
January 1, 12:00 AM CST to January 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Jones forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
43.961, -100.690 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Drought
A drought reaching severe (D2) or worse on the US Drought Monitor, or with notable impacts.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in South Dakota in 2025Every state in 2025This day in weather historyWarnings in South Dakota, January 2025

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1224166, 1224167, 1224168, 1224169, 1224170.