Map: Northern Plains Drought Improves

Drought has declined across the northern Plains, with the Dakotas seeing particularly good relief. 

Following weekly precipitation totals anywhere from 400% to 600% above normal, the latest weekly US drought monitor on Thursday showed some form of drought impacting just over 29% of North Dakota as of May 20. That is down about 10 points from the previous week and the lowest since early October. 

Meanwhile, that portion of South Dakota impacted by drought tumbled 23 points from a week earlier to 34%, the lowest since mid-September last year. 

All told, an estimated 29% of the American spring wheat area was located within an area experiencing some form of drought as of May 20, down 10 points from a week earlier and the lowest since late March (see map below). 

According to the North Dakota Wheat Commission, the heaviest rains fell across the western part of that state, with some areas seeing up to 5 inches or even more in some cases. Precipitation in the eastern areas amounted to 1-2 inches or more.