For previously issued drought statements see the archived status reports.
Table of all counties and drought status.Members of the S.C. Drought Response Committee, meeting via tele-conference on June 17, upgraded Aiken, Allendale, Bamberg, Barnwell, Beaufort, Berkeley, Calhoun, Charleston, Chesterfield, Clarendon, Colleton, Darlington, Dillon, Dorchester, Edgefield, Florence, Georgetown, Hampton, Horry, Jasper, Lee, Marion, Marlboro, Orangeburg, Sumter, and Williamsburg counties to moderate drought status. The remaining counties maintain incipient status. The moderate drought declaration is followed by increasing levels of severity to severe and extreme status.
Hope Mizzell, S.C. State Climatologist stated, "The decision to upgrade was primarily driven by the dry weather impact on agriculture and increased wildlife activity. Rainfall amounts and coverage have been well below normal since May 1 for the areas upgraded combined with above normal temperature (see table below). For areas maintained at the incipient level rainfall totals have been closer to normal. A few locations have even received much above normal rainfall since May 1, but they are isolated (such as Ft. Mill 13.73" or 248% of normal)."
Station | Rainfall Totals | Percent of Normal |
---|---|---|
Charleston | 1.63" | 24% |
Florence | 1.59" | 29% |
Barnwell | 2.63" | 42% |
Marion | 2.75" | 44% |
Walterboro | 3.10" | 46% |
Chesterfield | 3.37" | 62% |
David Tompkins with the S.C. Department of Agriculture reported, "Agriculture in virtually every area of South Carolina is in need of rainfall. The lack of rain, coupled with high temperatures, is impacting crop production. Also being affected are pastures and hay production. Adequate rainfall is essential to agricultural production. Irrigation systems supplement natural rainfall, but do not make up for severe deficits. The next few weeks are critical to farmers and we are hopeful that rainfall will be adequate."
Darryl Jones with the S.C. Forestry Commission reported, "We already hit our five year average in the first two weeks for the month of June as far as wildfires. It's also been very hot and that has taken a toll on our firefighters, causing a lot of fatigue and raising safety concerns. A lot of the fires are requiring we keep personnel on scene for an extended period because it's burning in the ground and threatens to escape, so it is taking a lot of effort to fully mop them up. We're also getting reports of survival problems with seedlings planted this past winter and we would expect that to increase if the dry conditions continue."
The good news is that most water systems are reporting adequate storage at this time according to S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control.
The purpose of the moderate declaration is to increase awareness that drought conditions are intensifying. Water systems are asked to review their Drought Response Plans and Ordinances and implement as needed. The committee also hopes that the drought status increase will bring attention to the increased wildfire activity and will encourage the public to be cautious with any outdoor burning activity. The best way to fight wildfires is to prevent them! The committee will reconvene in a month or sooner if needed to reevaluate the drought conditions.
Contact South Carolina State Climatologist Dr.Hope Mizzell in Columbia at (803) 734-9568, or (803) 530-5793, or e-mail at mizzellh@dnr.sc.gov for more information.
DNR protects and manages South Carolina's natural resources by making wise and balanced decisions for the benefit of the state's #natural resources and its people. Find out more about DNR at the DNR Web site.
Current Drought Status by County | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Normal | Incipient | Moderate | Severe | Extreme |
County Status |
County Status |
County Status |
County Status |
County Status |
ABBEVILLE Incipient |
AIKEN Moderate |
ALLENDALE Moderate |
ANDERSON Incipient |
BAMBERG Moderate |
BARNWELL Moderate |
BEAUFORT Moderate |
BERKELEY Moderate |
CALHOUN Moderate |
CHARLESTON Moderate |
CHEROKEE Incipient |
CHESTER Incipient |
CHESTERFIELD Moderate |
CLARENDON Moderate |
COLLETON Moderate |
DARLINGTON Moderate |
DILLON Moderate |
DORCHESTER Moderate |
EDGEFIELD Moderate |
FAIRFIELD Incipient |
FLORENCE Moderate |
GEORGETOWN Moderate |
GREENVILLE Incipient |
GREENWOOD Incipient |
HAMPTON Moderate |
HORRY Moderate |
JASPER Moderate |
KERSHAW Incipient |
LANCASTER Incipient |
LAURENS Incipient |
LEE Moderate |
LEXINGTON Incipient |
MARION Moderate |
MARLBORO Moderate |
MCCORMICK Incipient |
NEWBERRY Incipient |
OCONEE Incipient |
ORANGEBURG Moderate |
PICKENS Incipient |
RICHLAND Incipient |
SALUDA Incipient |
SPARTANBURG Incipient |
SUMTER Incipient |
UNION Incipient |
WILLIAMSBURG Moderate |
YORK Incipient |
SC Drought Response Committee Meeting, June 17, 2011 Sign-In sheet | |
---|---|
Name & Agency | Name & Agency |
Find out more about the State Climatology Office at https://www.dnr.sc.gov/climate/sco/ or by calling (803) 734-9100.