Heavy rain storms swept across the Northern Hills beginning last Friday, and it hasn’t quit raining since in some areas. Light rain is still falling in the higher elevations. Officials from the National Weather Service say downtown Lead has received seven and a half inches of rain in the last four days.
Melissa Smith is a hydrologist with the National Weather Service. She says although every bit of moisture helps, the drought is not over yet.
“We still have long-term drought conditions across the area but right now most of the areas are just between abnormally dry and in a moderate drought. It has definitely helped our short-term conditions,” says Smith.
Smith says there was a lot of variability with the storms and rain totals. She says Spearfish reported three inches of rain since last Friday while Mt. Rushmore didn’t even receive half an inch. Smith adds that recent rainfall has creeks and streams running high, some at ten times their normal amounts, and encourages people to use caution when coming into contact with rushing water.