Fall temperatures coming will provide some relief to the water demands in drought-weary locations in the state. But it will not be soon enough for many crop areas, where chopping of corn for silage is already in progress. The city of Sioux Falls has enacted watering restrictions due to decreased flow on the Big Sioux. A few rains during the week of 8.25 to 8.28 have improved a few locations. Radar estimated precipitation amounts from storms from the evening of 8.27 through the morning of 8-28 showed a few small areas getting near an inch of rainfall. Most areas received much less than that.
   The Drought Monitor map (left), released 8.28.03, reflects the increasing severity of the drought conditions from extreme in the northwest corner of the state.
   The new long range outlooks have given no indication of direction on continuing dryness or improvement. Cooler fall temperatures will decrease water demand. But rainfall needs to occur to refill the soil profile and surface water sources.

Dennis Todey
State Climatologist