Mobridge breaks century-old precipitation record

Many South Dakota communities are logging above-average temperatures in May, but Mobridge stands alone in having its wettest month on record.

So far this month, Mobridge has received 9.16 inches of precipitation, according to the National Weather Service.

Until now, Mobridge’s highest rainfall total was 8.85 inches, a record set in June 1915, said Tim Kearns of the NWS office in Aberdeen.

Aberdeen has logged 5.86 inches so far this month, Kearns said. It’s an amount that’s above normal, but not record-breaking. Aberdeen’s record wettest month is 12.39 inches set in May 1906. Sisseton has had 4.26 inches of rain this month, which is 2.18 inches above normal, he said.

The NWS has kept weather statistics since 1893.

— Reporter Elisa Sand