RAPID CITY, S.D. (KOTA) – Whereas we aren’t presently in a snow drought and the snowiest time for Western South Dakota continues to be just a few months away. The present drought situations began within the early Spring of 2022.

“We really dried out, normally March and April are our two snowiest months. Nonetheless, beginning about mid-March, we simply actually didn’t get the spring snowfall that we’re used to, and that sort of led to having these drier situations all through the summer season after which into the autumn.” Nationwide Climate Service Hydrologist Melissa Smith said.

Western South Dakota usually goes by way of a 5-to-10-year cycle of moist and dry durations which might result in us seeing a number of varieties of droughts like Agricultural, Socioeconomic, and Hydrologic Droughts.

“Hydrologic drought, proper now we’re seeing lots of that in terms of areas like alongside the White River. There are lots of areas alongside the White River the place the water just isn’t flowing on the present time. We’re simply popping out of that 5-to-10-year moist interval, so the chances are favored for us to be drier for the subsequent 5 to 10 years or so.” Smith added.

Whereas snow just isn’t the preferred precipitation sort and there’s not a lot moisture content material to it. Snow does play a key position in recharging our aquifers.

Galen Hoogestraat from the U.S. Geological Survey said “Snow tends to soften somewhat extra slowly and it refills the aquifers… higher than a fast thunderstorm occasion would possibly. After we recharge our aquifers, it helps maintain our stream movement and our reservoir scenario for a number of years.”

If you wish to be taught extra concerning the a number of varieties of droughts, you may head to:

https://www.drought.gov/what-is-drought/drought-basics#types-of-drought

Copyright 2022 KOTA. All rights reserved.