(Continued from page 6)

• Edwards says water levels in rivers and streams, the recent hot and dry weather, in addition to field condition reports have all contributed to the one category change on the U.S. Drought Monitor.
• "Streamflow levels for the last week have been much lower than normal for this time of year, and temperatures were in the 90s with little rain," Edwards said.
• Over the last 30 days, the new Extreme Drought region has received less than half of normal rainfall. The last week has been 2 to 6 degrees above average, which cut short any relief from the cooler temperatures that were spread across the state a couple of weeks ago.
• Elsewhere in the state, hot and dry weather took over in recent days. The outlook for the next five days appears to continue with below average rainfall, with some scattered small amounts in the eastern half of the state.
• Edwards says that Tropical Storm Isaac is weakening and making its way inland, but will be turning east, and likely will not bring any beneficial rainfall to our area. Temperatures will cool off from the 100-plus degrees that the state experienced recently, but will return to the 90s for many eastern South Dakota locations. She says the Black Hills will be just slightly cooler, in the mid-80s and low 90s over the next several days.
• SDSU Extension will provide weekly drought briefings throughout the 2012 growing season. To keep up to date on how the drought is impacting South Dakota's agriculture industry, visit iGrow.org.