Canton Now Has a Rain Record They Really Didn’t Want

According to SDSU's igrow Agricultural teaching platform, Canton established a new state record for the wettest month at any location in South Dakota.

The final tally was 19.65 inches in June.  The previous wettest month on record in the state was May 1946 at Deadwood, with a total of 18.61 inches.

Among the records unearthed by SDSU's Extension Office, Canton received 13.16 of the month's total rainfall in three days; with a single day total of 8.43 inches on June 17, 2014.

Several other stations set records for their individual location including; Sioux Falls with 13.70 inches; Centerville with 13.50 inches and Vermillion with 11.46 inches. State Climatologist Dr. Dennis Todey also stated in the report, "Nearly all stations reporting from Minnehaha, Lincoln, Union and Clay Counties had more than 11 inches. Many locations between Sioux Falls and Canton ranged from 13 to 16 inches for the month."

The northwest part of the state had a very heavy precipitation month as well. Two stations in that region set new monthly records: Bison, with 8.07 inches, and Timber Lake with 9.89 inches.

In western South Dakota the rainfall in June created exceptional grazing and haying conditions for many western South Dakota producers, and stock ponds are full to overflowing.