Drought Information Statement for 
SE SD, SW MN, NW IA, Far NE Neb 
Valid September 24, 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 WIDESPREAD RAINS SLOWLY IMPROVES DROUGHT CONDITIONS ACROSS THE REGION


LONG TERM PRECIPITATION DEFICITS REMAIN BUT CONTINUES TO IMPROVE THROUGH THE FALL MONTHS
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 Abnormal Dry to Moderate Drought Remains Given Long Term Deficits But is Improving…

Drought Intensity and Extent

D1 (Moderate Drought): Portions of southeast South Dakota, southwest Minnesota, and northeast Nebraska.

D0 (Abnormally Dry): Remaining areas not in D1 drought other than portions of northwest Iowa. 

Precipitation Departure From Normal
Precipitation Departure From Normal
Water Year (Since Oct 1st)
Precipitation Departure From Normal
Month to Date
September Precip Departure From Normal
Year-to-Date Departure From Normal
Huron
+2.49”
+0.36”
Mitchell
+4.72”
-2.10”
Vermillion
+1.15”
-4.95”
Sioux Falls
+1.94”
-5.66”
Gregory
+0.82”
-2.36”
Brookings
+0.17”
-3.96”
Sioux City
-0.19”
-5.21”
Sioux Center
+3.96”
-3.63”
Spencer
+2.81”
-3.02”
Marshall
+0.23”
-6.44”
Pipestone
+2.48”
-4.81”
Windom
+0.58”
-6.36”

Hydrologic Conditions
Groundwater Wells Data: Renner, SD
Near Huron, SD
USGS Streamflow Data: 
National Water Dashboard
USGS Streamflow Status Map - 7 Day Average (valid 09/24/2026)
Renner, SD Groundwater Well

Agricultural and Soil Moisture Impacts
SD
As of Sep 21st
Very Short Moisture
Short Moisture
Adequate Moisture
Moisture Surplus
Topsoil
21%
43%
33%
3%
Subsoil
32%
43%
24%
1%
IA
As of Sep 21st
Very Short Moisture
Short Moisture
Adequate Moisture
Moisture Surplus
Topsoil
0%
4%
68%
28%
Subsoil
2%
11%
69%
18%
MN
As of Sep 21st
Very Short Moisture
Short Moisture
Adequate Moisture
Moisture Surplus
Topsoil
8%
26%
56%
10%
Subsoil
14%
32%
50%
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
Rain chances continue through the end of September and will continue to improve drought conditions across the region.
Short Range Outlook
Medium to long range outlooks favor a continuation of above normal temperatures through the fall months. Precipitation outlooks favor near to above normal precipitation. 
Medium to Long Range Outlook

Drought Outlook
The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage
Recent widespread rainfall has resulted in improvement to drought conditions across the region.

While long term precipitation deficits remain, continued above normal precipitation will continue to aid in drought improvement and/or removal.  

The latest drought-related information can be found at: weather.gov/fsd/drought. This will be the final Drought Information Statement unless more severe drought conditions return. 
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.
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