Monthly Archives: December 2015

AAA reports the average U.S. gas price dropped below $2 per gallon this morning for the first time since March 25, 2009. Today’s national average price is $1.998 per gallon. AAA estimates that cheaper gas prices have saved Americans more than $115 billion on gasoline so far this year, which works out to more than $550 per licensed driver.

More than 91 million Americans plan to take advantage of cheaper gas prices to drive 50 miles or more during the upcoming holiday period. Travel by all modes of transportation should be a record, topping 100 million.

“It’s all pretty simple,” said Marilyn Buskohl, spokeswoman for AAA South Dakota. “Gas prices have dropped because there is more than enough oil and gasoline supplies around the world to meet current demand. In addition, gas prices generally fall through early winter because people drive and use less fuel this time of year.”

Gas prices already are much cheaper than $2 per gallon in most parts of the country. The lowest one percent of U.S. stations is selling gas for an average of $1.59 per gallon, and more than 13,000 stations are selling gas for less than $1.75 per gallon. The states with the cheapest averages today include: Missouri ($1.77), Oklahoma ($1.78), South Carolina ($1.78), Tennessee ($1.79) and Kansas ($1.79). Average state and metro prices can be found on AAA’s Fuel Gauge Report website, updated daily: FuelGaugeReport.AAA.com.

AAA predicts gas prices likely will remain low through January, and could drop even further if the cost of crude oil remains weak. By late winter, gas prices may rise 50 cents per gallon or more as refineries conduct maintenance in advance of the busy summer driving season.

Americans are on track this year to drive a record number of miles, largely due to lower gas prices and a stronger economy, based on early estimates by the Federal Highway Administration. Through October, which is the most recent data available, Americans have driven more than 2.63 trillion miles for the year, which is a 3.4 percent increase over the same period in 2014.

Snowmobile trails in South Dakota are now open.

“The Black Hills has seen minimal snowfall so far this season,” said Black Hills Trails district supervisor, Shannon Percy. “Grooming operations will be limited until we see additional accumulation.”
Percy would like to remind riders that some obstacles exist throughout the 350-mile Black Hills Trails system due to the Mountain Pine Beetle epidemic.
“Snowmobilers should be aware that trees, broken tree tops and dangling branches can fall at any time while riding on and off-trail,” said Percy. “Please be aware of your surroundings as trees and debris may cause obstructions.”
Eastern South Dakota saw significant accumulations in November, but most of that snow has since melted. Current projections have snow accumulations adding up in some parts of central and eastern South Dakota.

PIERRE, S.D. – The South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Commission adopted a proposal at their December meeting that would provide a terminally ill South Dakota resident the opportunity to hunt big game.

The Secretary may authorize a resident who has been diagnosed by a licensed doctor of medicine to have a terminal illness which is medically expected to significantly shorten their life expectency to hunt deer, antelope and turkey. The proposed rule would also authorize the Secretary to provide allowances for persons 25 and under who are fighting cancer, other terminal illnesses or a disease which will significantly reduce their life expectancy. The proposed rule would allow hunting only during established hunting seasons, and would allow the hunter to take no more than one deer, antelope and turkey.

The proposal also allows that certain restrictions may be waived or additional terms or conditions may be imposed necessary to facilitate participation for the person receiving authorization.

BROOKINGS, S.D. – A near-record strong El Nino has brought warmer than average temperatures to South Dakota throughout December. According to the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Dec. 17, 2015 Climate Outlook, the trend is forecast to continue until spring 2016, said Laura Edwards, SDSU Extension Climate Field Specialist.

“Several records have already been tied or broken this month, with high minimum temperatures across the region,” Edwards said.

Statewide approximately 59 new daily records were set between December 9 and 13, 2015. “On December 10 alone, 35 new records were set for high minimum temperatures all across the state, from Pactola Dam to Sisseton,” Edwards said.

She added that three stations tied their all-time minimum temperature for all Decembers on record: Vermilion with 49 degrees on Dec. 8; Roscoe with 35 on Dec. 9; and Selby with 36 on Dec. 9.

“The outlook for January and the next three months shows a continued trend of warmer than average temperatures across the northern states,” said Dennis Todey, South Dakota State Climatologist & SDSU Extension Climate Specialist. “Despite a cool-down over the next couple of days in South Dakota, the region is forecast to warm up again by the end of the month. Even these cooler days are just a little below average.”

For precipitation, there are some increased chances of moisture to pass through our area in the next couple of weeks. “Most of the lower 48 states are favored to be slightly wetter than average, with the eastern states in the Ohio River and Tennessee Valley areas with the highest likelihood of wetter conditions,” Todey said.

Looking further ahead, the climate outlook shows drier conditions favored over the northern Rockies and the Great Lakes. “South Dakota again straddles a region to the north that is forecast to be drier than average, and a region to the south that is favored to be wetter than average in Nebraska and across the southern Plains,” Todey said.

Edwards added that the main agricultural impacts the team is watching currently include winter wheat condition and the muddy conditions for feedlot cattle. “With continued warm temperatures and wetter soils, there are muddy conditions causing some feedlot difficulties. Winter wheat is being monitored because inconsistent snow cover could expose this year’s crop to frost damage if snow is not present,” Edwards said.