South Dakota, 2026

Drought in South Dakota, April 1 to 30, 2026

April 1 to 30, 2026 · NWS ABR · 2 events in 2 counties and zones

Uneven moisture in April resulted in continued severe drought (D2) across Lyman and Buffalo counties. 93, which is about half an inch above normal for moisture, with near normal temperatures for the month.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 2 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
2

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.

Uneven moisture in April resulted in continued severe drought (D2) across Lyman and Buffalo counties. The COOP observer in Gann Valley recorded 2.4 inches of moisture, while Kennebec recorded 2.93, which is about half an inch above normal for moisture, with near normal temperatures for the month.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

2 drought. Local standard time, as filed.

Drought, Buffalo

When
April 1, 12:00 AM CST to April 30, 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, Lyman

When
April 1, 12:00 AM CST to April 30, 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)

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 2026Every state in 2026This day in weather historyWarnings in South Dakota, April 2026

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 2026-09-30. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1321162, 1321163.