Climate

Across South Dakota, the first week of February was notably warmer than average. In the north and central regions, weekly temperatures were nine to 15 degrees above average. The south central and southeast regions were three to nine degrees above average.
Warm temperatures in the last week started some gradual melt of the substantial snowpack in eastern South Dakota. Currently ,the Plains areas west of the Missouri River are primarily snow-free, except for Tripp/Gregory county, parts of Jones and Lyman counties, and Corson County and the Standing Rock Reservation. In the west, bare soils responded to warm temperatures, and frost is not as deep as a week ago. Some locations in the northwest have seen frost depths go from 34 to 49 inches to 17 to 24 inches in the last week.
The seven-day period was also quite dry, with no precipitation noted anywhere in South Dakota, except for some areas of the Black Hills and southwest.
~Laura Edwards, SDSU Extension
Weather
Potential for Critical Conditions: Elevated fire danger is expected today over southwestern South Dakota.
~Darren Clabo, South Dakota Mines
Fire/Fuels
Much of western South Dakota and even portions of the central, eastern, and southern Black Hills are currently without snow cover. This is elevating the fire danger across the region, especially on days like today, with RH getting down below 25%. The fine dead fuels in these areas are receptive and available to burn. Some precipitation is expected this week, which should help to cover those fuels, but a day or two of warm and dry conditions will set us right back to where we are now.
Note: ERC maps will not be available until NFDRSv4 becomes fully operational.
~Darren Clabo, South Dakota Mines
Next Update: Monday, February 20, 2023
