South Dakota, 2026

Drought in South Dakota, June 1 to 30, 2026

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

Severe Drought (D2) conditions came to an end after beneficial moisture was reported across much of Lyman and Buffalo counties throughout June. 33 inches.

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

Open the live radar over this ground

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.

Severe Drought (D2) conditions came to an end after beneficial moisture was reported across much of Lyman and Buffalo counties throughout June. The COOP observer in Kennebec recorded 4.85 inches of rainfall for the month, while the Gann Valley COOP observer recorded 3.33 inches.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Aberdeen, SD wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at May 31, 11:23 PM CST, 37 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 31, 11:23 PM CST, 37 minutes before
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Hazardous weather outlook, May 31, 12:32 PM CST, 11 hours 28 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Aberdeen SD
132 PM CDT Sun May 31 2026

SDZ003>011-015>023-033>037-045-048-051-011845-
Corson-Campbell-McPherson-Brown-Marshall-Roberts-Walworth-Edmunds-
Day-Dewey-Potter-Faulk-Spink-Clark-Codington-Grant-Hamlin-Deuel-
Stanley-Sully-Hughes-Hyde-Hand-Jones-Lyman-Buffalo-
132 PM CDT Sun May 31 2026 /1232 PM MDT Sun May 31 2026/

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central South Dakota, north
central South Dakota and northeast South Dakota.

.DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight.

A Marginal Risk (Level 1 of 5) for severe weather is in effect for
this afternoon through late this evening. Damaging wind gusts of 60
mph and hail of 1 inch in diameter are the main threats. Brief heavy
downpours are a secondary threat.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday.

A Slight Risk (Level 2 of 5) for severe weather is in effect Tuesday
for locations along and west of the Missouri River. A Marginal Risk
(Level 1 out of 5) for severe storms is in effect for locations
between the Missouri and James River. Large hail (1"+ in diameter)
and wind gusts of 60+ mph are the main threats.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not expected at this time.

MNZ039-046-011845-
Traverse-Big Stone-
132 PM CDT Sun May 31 2026

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for west central Minnesota.

.DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight.

Isolated to scattered thunderstorms are possible late this afternoon
through early tonight. While no severe weather is anticipated,
lightning will be the main threat. Small hail less then 1" in
diameter is possible along with wind gusts to 50 mph in any stronger
storm.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday.

No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not expected at this time.

In the hours before

Local storm report, May 31, 6:24 PM CST, 5 hours 36 minutes before
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Local storm report, May 31, 6:56 PM CST, 5 hours 4 minutes before
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Local storm report, May 31, 7:42 PM CST, 4 hours 18 minutes before
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Local storm report, May 31, 8:04 PM CST, 3 hours 56 minutes before
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Local storm report, May 31, 8:31 PM CST, 3 hours 29 minutes before
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Local storm report, May 31, 9:39 PM CST, 2 hours 21 minutes before
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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
June 1, 12:00 AM CST to June 30, 4:00 PM CST
Where
Buffalo forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
44.076, -99.205 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Severe Drought (D2) conditions ended as persistent June rainfall relieved long-term moisture deficits.

Drought, Lyman

When
June 1, 12:00 AM CST to June 30, 4:00 PM CST
Where
Lyman forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
43.896, -99.847 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Severe Drought (D2) conditions concluded by the end of the month following widespread June rainfall.

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, June 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: 1337554, 1337555.