State officials say drought conditions in parts of the state could increase the risk for wildfires this summer.
Darren Clabo is the State Wildfire Meteorologist.
Clabo says the southwest and eastern parts of the state have received plenty of moisture this year. However northwest and north-central South Dakota remain dry.
He says 2020 was much drier than 2019 and the soil started out the year with less moisture.
“We did dry out last year and we dried out considerably. We didn’t have any drought conditions across the state but, again, drought spread across the state last summer due to some above average temperatures, some windier conditions and a lack of precipitation.”
Clabo says March and April are the state’s wettest months and have a major effect on fire risk in the summer.