Underneath the snow, drought conditions persist across KELOLAND.
Scenes of heavy snowfall stretch from Huron to Aberdeen and Watertown. While the snow is deep, the benefit of the moisture will be limited because of the frozen ground.
"They're not going to see any improvement as far as the agricultural prospects go with increasing the soil moisture, at least initially with the snow melt. That water that will be getting into the river system will help out Sioux Falls some," National Weather Service hydrologist Mike Gillispie said.
That will replenish the Big Sioux River, which is a big supply of water for South Dakota's biggest city. For those hoping for a turnaround in the four to six inch deficit in soil moisture, Gillispie says that will depend on springtime weather.
"Once that snow is gone, the soils are thawed, that's when we really start seeing the soil moisture recharge," Gillispie said.
While the recent snowfall will help replenish the river, we're still a long way off from the threat of flooding.
"It is going to take an awful lot of water to get back to where we were two years ago," Gillispie said.
But of course, South Dakota weather can always change.
Oddly enough, there is an increased threat of flooding among some rivers to the north, including the Red River, which could flood if a rapid melt would occur.
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