South Carolina Drought News Release
South Carolina Department of Natural Resources
Land, Water and Conservation Division
South Carolina Drought Response Program
Department of Natural Resources News (803) 734-4133
SPECIAL NEWS RELEASE August 13, 1998 Drought Status Report
Indices by which drought is measured show that 56% of South Carolina
continues to experience moderate drought conditions with 44% of the state in
the mild drought category as of August 11, 1998. If the current atmospheric
pattern continues to produce widespread showers, the South Carolina
Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) will lift the moderate drought
declaration next week. In such an eventuality, the SCDNR will then downgrade
the declaration to an incipient drought.
South Carolinians should be advised that the long range forecast for
precipitation by the Climate Prediction Center of the National Weather Service
indicates a winter 1998 through spring 1999 dry phase for all of the South,
Southeast and Southwest United States.
"The extended seasonal outlook indicates drier-than-normal conditions
for the Southwest from September 1998 through May 1999. The outlook also
suggests the likelihood that drier-than-normal conditions will expand
eastward this winter to encompass Texas, the Gulf Coast, Florida, and the
Southeast."
This potential dry phase NOAA conditional forecast is based on the
appearance of abnormally cold water in the equatorial Pacific, "La Nina".
During previous La Ninas drier than normal winters and springs have been
documented in our region. The good news is that normally, La Nina winter and
spring dry periods are preceded by a wetter than normal late summer and
autumns. Such periods have also been associated with a return to normal or
above normal frequency of Atlantic Hurricanes.
Find out more about the State Climatology Office at http://www.dnr.sc.gov/climate/sco/ or by calling (803) 734-9100.
