Drought Information Statement for SE SD, SW MN, NW IA, Far NE Neb Valid July 10, 2026 Issued By: WFO Sioux Falls, SD Contact Information: w-fsd.webmaster@noaa.gov This product will be updated as conditions warrant. Please see all currently available products at https://drought.gov/drought-information-statements. Please visit https://www.weather.gov/fsd/DroughtInformationStatement for previous statements. Please visit https://www.drought.gov/drought-status-updates for regional drought status updates. RECENT RAIN BRINGS SOME IMPROVEMENT BUT WIDESPREAD DROUGHT REMAINS ACROSS THE REGION LONG RANGE OUTLOOKS FAVOR DROUGHT CONDITIONS PERSISTING OR EXPANDING 1 Latest U.S. Drought Monitor Link to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor for SE South Dakota, SW Minnesota, NW Iowa, far NE Nebraska …Widespread Moderate to Severe Drought Conditions… Drought Intensity and Extent D3 (Extreme Drought): Portions of northern Nebraska D2 (Severe Drought): Portions of southeast South Dakota into northeast Nebraska. D1 (Moderate Drought): Southwest Minnesota into remaining areas of southeast South Dakota D0 (Abnormally Dry): Remaining areas not in more substantial drought coverage across northwest Iowa and southwest Minnesota. Precipitation Departure From Normal Water Year (Since Oct 1st) Precipitation Departure From Normal Month to Date Temperature - Past 30 Days Temperatures during this period were above normal for much of October driven by a very warm start to the month. Temperatures fell well below normal to close out the month. Summary of Impacts Links: See/submit Condition Monitoring Observer Reports (CMOR) and view the Drought Impacts Reporter Hydrologic Impacts River and stream levels are generally near normal with a few streams and rivers showing below normal levels. A below normal runoff is forecast by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for the Missouri River, with water conservation measures in place for the reservoir system. Agricultural Impacts Reports of pasture land being well behind schedule and concern about livestock. Stock ponds dried up with poor water quality. Potential heavy degree of crop yield loss expected in portions of south central South Dakota. Fire Hazard Impacts No recent reports Other Impacts None reported Mitigation Actions Shut off or monitoring notifications for water rights sent to some users. Hydrologic Conditions River and stream levels have improved with recent rain with most now into normal levels. Portions of the Vermillion, Big Sioux, and Rock Rivers continue to run below normal with above normal levels noted on the Floyd River. Groundwater Wells Data: Renner, SD Near Huron, SD USGS Streamflow Data: National Water Dashboard USGS Streamflow Status Map - 14 Day Average (valid 07/10/2026) Agricultural and Soil Moisture Impacts SD As of Jul 10th Very Short Moisture Short Moisture Adequate Moisture Moisture Surplus Topsoil 11% 37% 48% 4% Subsoil 19% 37% 42% 2% IA As of Jul 10th Very Short Moisture Short Moisture Adequate Moisture Moisture Surplus Topsoil 1% 10% 71% 18% Subsoil 3% 16% 65% 16% MN As of Jul 10th Very Short Moisture Short Moisture Adequate Moisture Moisture Surplus Topsoil 2% 17% 73% 8% Subsoil 4% 23% 69% 4% USDA Crop Progress and Condition Reports South Dakota Minnesota Iowa Nebraska Medium and Long-Range Outlooks The latest medium range and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage Temperature Precipitation Above normal temperatures and generally dry conditions are expected into the middle portions of July which may lead for drought re-expansion. Short Range Outlook Medium range outlooks favor above normal temperatures and near to below normal precipitation for late July. Outlooks for the remainder of summer into fall lack a clear signal in temperature or precipitation for our immediate region. Medium to Long Range Outlook Drought Outlook The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage Recent rainfall has resulted in some improvement to drought conditions but long term precipitation deficits remain. Above normal temperatures and below normal precipitations may result in re-expansion or degradation of drought conditions through late summer. Drought persistence is likely over much of southeast South Dakota. The latest drought-related information can be found at: weather.gov/fsd/drought. Additional Drought Statements will be issued as conditions warrant. The drought monitor is a multi-agency effort involving NOAA’s National Weather Service and National Climatic Data Center, the USDA, state and regional center climatologists and the National Drought Mitigation Center. Information for this statement has been gathered from NWS and FAA observation sites, cooperative and volunteer observations, USDAFS, the USDA and USGS. Acknowledgements