Counties with the worst droughts in South Dakota

Nearly half of the continental United States is currently experiencing moderate to exceptional drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.

Storms during this past winter brought heavy (in some areas, record-setting) rainfall and flooding to California, offering the state an expected two-year reprieve from widespread droughts that covered nearly 100% of the state from 2020 to 2022. But in other parts of the country, especially dry conditions continue.

Four states currently have the most widespread drought, covering 100% of their areas. These are South Dakota, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Delaware.

In periods of drought, levels of major reservoirs and rivers can fall dramatically. Groundwater systems are also affected as shrinking water supplies impact agriculture and hydropower generation while increasing wildfire risk. Across New England, ongoing drought has shrunk reservoirs and water supplies in the region.

Periods of drought have intensified and become more frequent in recent years due to climate change. Scientists predict that even in low-emissions scenarios, much of the U.S. will be drier by the end of the century.

Stacker cited data from the U.S. Drought Monitor to identify the counties in South Dakota with the worst droughts as of Dec. 17, 2024. Counties are listed in order of percent of the area in drought conditions. "Abnormally dry" is not considered to be a drought but is included as a separate data point. Additional data for the state overall is also included. Any counties not experiencing drought are not included in the list. Counties are listed in order of drought severity.

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Emma Rubin // Stacker

1 / 67

South Dakota statistics

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0% (#1 nationally, tie)
--- Moderate drought: 51.0%
--- Severe drought: 42.6%
--- Extreme drought: 6.5%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Ziebach County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 100.0%
--- Severe drought: 0.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Sully County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 100.0%
--- Severe drought: 0.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Stanley County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 100.0%
--- Severe drought: 0.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Spink County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 100.0%
--- Severe drought: 0.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Roberts County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 100.0%
--- Severe drought: 0.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Potter County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 100.0%
--- Severe drought: 0.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Moody County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 100.0%
--- Severe drought: 0.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Minnehaha County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 100.0%
--- Severe drought: 0.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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McPherson County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 100.0%
--- Severe drought: 0.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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McCook County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 100.0%
--- Severe drought: 0.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Marshall County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 100.0%
--- Severe drought: 0.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Lake County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 100.0%
--- Severe drought: 0.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Hyde County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 100.0%
--- Severe drought: 0.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Hughes County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 100.0%
--- Severe drought: 0.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Hamlin County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 100.0%
--- Severe drought: 0.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Grant County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 100.0%
--- Severe drought: 0.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Faulk County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 100.0%
--- Severe drought: 0.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Edmunds County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 100.0%
--- Severe drought: 0.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Deuel County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 100.0%
--- Severe drought: 0.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Day County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 100.0%
--- Severe drought: 0.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Codington County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 100.0%
--- Severe drought: 0.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Clark County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 100.0%
--- Severe drought: 0.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

Jacob Boomsma // Shutterstock

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Brown County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 100.0%
--- Severe drought: 0.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Brookings County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 100.0%
--- Severe drought: 0.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Campbell County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 99.9%
--- Severe drought: 0.1%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Hand County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 99.8%
--- Severe drought: 0.2%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Kingsbury County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 98.1%
--- Severe drought: 1.9%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Walworth County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 96.9%
--- Severe drought: 3.1%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Haakon County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 94.5%
--- Severe drought: 5.5%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Turner County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 85.8%
--- Severe drought: 14.2%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Miner County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 74.5%
--- Severe drought: 25.5%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Dewey County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 72.6%
--- Severe drought: 27.4%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Beadle County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 69.5%
--- Severe drought: 30.5%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Bon Homme County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 64.0%
--- Severe drought: 36.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Lincoln County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 63.1%
--- Severe drought: 36.9%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Jones County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 60.1%
--- Severe drought: 39.9%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Buffalo County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 57.7%
--- Severe drought: 42.3%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Corson County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 57.5%
--- Severe drought: 42.5%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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40 / 67

Hutchinson County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 48.4%
--- Severe drought: 51.6%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Lyman County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 39.1%
--- Severe drought: 60.9%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Hanson County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 16.0%
--- Severe drought: 84.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

Jacob Boomsma // Shutterstock

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Jerauld County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 2.8%
--- Severe drought: 97.2%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Tripp County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 100.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Sanborn County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 100.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Gregory County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 100.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Douglas County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 100.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Davison County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 100.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Charles Mix County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 100.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Brule County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 100.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Aurora County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 100.0%
--- Extreme drought: 0.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Yankton County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 25.6%
--- Severe drought: 74.3%
--- Extreme drought: 0.1%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Butte County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 99.4%
--- Extreme drought: 0.6%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Perkins County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 15.9%
--- Severe drought: 83.1%
--- Extreme drought: 1.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Meade County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 36.6%
--- Severe drought: 59.8%
--- Extreme drought: 3.6%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Bennett County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 92.8%
--- Extreme drought: 7.2%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Union County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 90.8%
--- Extreme drought: 9.2%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Oglala Lakota County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 88.1%
--- Extreme drought: 11.9%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Jackson County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 2.2%
--- Severe drought: 82.0%
--- Extreme drought: 15.8%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Pennington County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 16.8%
--- Severe drought: 49.3%
--- Extreme drought: 33.9%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Clay County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 62.8%
--- Extreme drought: 37.2%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Todd County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 59.0%
--- Extreme drought: 41.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Lawrence County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 54.1%
--- Extreme drought: 45.9%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Mellette County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 34.8%
--- Extreme drought: 65.2%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Harding County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 34.3%
--- Extreme drought: 65.7%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Custer County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 27.3%
--- Extreme drought: 72.7%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

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Fall River County

- Abnormally dry: 0.0%
- Area in drought: 100.0%
--- Moderate drought: 0.0%
--- Severe drought: 23.0%
--- Extreme drought: 77.0%
--- Exceptional drought: 0.0%

This story features data reporting and writing by Emma Rubin and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 49 states.