Drought conditions improved some in August as a changing weather pattern had brought cooler conditions along with more frequent episodes of showers and thunderstorms. The average monthly temperatures across the drought region were from 3 to 5 degrees below normal. Monthly rainfall amounts were from 3 to 6 inches, ranging from 1 to nearly 4 inches above normal.
There was a decrease in the areal coverage of severe drought along with almost the elimination of the extreme drought region across north central South Dakota. In fact, the drought conditions jumped two categories from the 1st to the 31st from extreme to moderate drought over part of north central South Dakota.  Due to the above normal rainfall, there was some improvement with the crops and pastureland across the region. Although, stock water supplies were still running short. The spring wheat harvested in the state this year was only 670,000 acres, the lowest since the big drought year of 1936 where only 550,000 acres were harvested.
Most of the counties across the region had lifted their burn bans by the end of August. There was also an increase in the number of sick or dead livestock due to nitrate poisoning from the drinking water. Stream flows were also up to at or above normal due to the heavier rainfall by the end of the month along with better topsoil and subsoil moisture. The drought continued into September.

Drought in CORSON, SOUTH DAKOTA
From 01-AUG-17 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-17 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in DEWEY, SOUTH DAKOTA
From 01-AUG-17 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-17 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in STANLEY, SOUTH DAKOTA
From 01-AUG-17 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-17 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in JONES, SOUTH DAKOTA
From 01-AUG-17 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-17 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in CAMPBELL, SOUTH DAKOTA
From 01-AUG-17 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-17 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in WALWORTH, SOUTH DAKOTA
From 01-AUG-17 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-17 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in POTTER, SOUTH DAKOTA
From 01-AUG-17 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-17 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in SULLY, SOUTH DAKOTA
From 01-AUG-17 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-17 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in HUGHES, SOUTH DAKOTA
From 01-AUG-17 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-17 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in LYMAN, SOUTH DAKOTA
From 01-AUG-17 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-17 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in MCPHERSON, SOUTH DAKOTA
From 01-AUG-17 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-17 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in EDMUNDS, SOUTH DAKOTA
From 01-AUG-17 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-17 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in FAULK, SOUTH DAKOTA
From 01-AUG-17 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-17 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in HYDE, SOUTH DAKOTA
From 01-AUG-17 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-17 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in HAND, SOUTH DAKOTA
From 01-AUG-17 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-17 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in BUFFALO, SOUTH DAKOTA
From 01-AUG-17 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-17 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in BROWN, SOUTH DAKOTA
From 01-AUG-17 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-17 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in SPINK, SOUTH DAKOTA
From 01-AUG-17 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-17 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor