Pierre, SD, USA / DRGNews Apr 10, 2021 8:00 AM As South Dakota farmers and ranchers gear up for spring planting and turning livestock out to pasture, warmer than average temperatures and limited chances of precipitation are continuing to make a dry situation worse. According to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor, 78.7% of South Dakota is in some level of drought, including 8% that is newly classified as Extreme Drought (D3) in the north central region. The rest of the state is Abnormally Dry (D0). “Drought is expected to persist in these areas through April, according to the latest monthly drought outlook issued on March 31 by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Prediction Center,” says Laura Edwards, SDSU Extension State Climatologist. “Northeast South Dakota has some likelihood to improve their drought condition with a more active storm track forecast to begin in mid-April. Overall, warmer than average temperatures are expected to continue in April, which can limit any drought relief from rainfall and even make some conditions more difficult.”