SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO AM) - The National Climatic Data Center says the Northern Plains states can expect a wetter than normal spring.
State Climatologist Laura Edwards says the wetter forecast is expected to continue through June especially for eastern South Dakota.
Edwards says there's not much concern about flooding because most of the snow has already melted.
She says the best rain is timely, allowing for field work and planting in April for corn and soybean crops. She says a warm, dry February helped get a jump on warming soil temperatures but there's a need for a good string of dry days next month.
She says temperatures are up in the air with no agreeable consensus between computer models or forecasters. She says there's an equal chance of above normal or below normal temperatures this spring. Edwards says if the region has near average temperatures it should work okay as well.
She says the early moisture would be beneficial in other aspects too. She says April moisture has been proven to be really important to pasture forage and hay conditions in the summer season.
The Sioux Falls National Weather Service is forecasting a wet 24 hours with some spots in southeastern South Dakota getting an inch of rain through Friday.
For Sioux Falls, the average precipitation in April is just over three inches.