For previously issued drought statements see the archived status reports.
Table of all counties and drought status.The State Agency Members of the S.C. Drought Response Committee, meeting electronically on June 2, have declared Marlboro, Dillon, Marion, Florence, Horry, Williamsburg, Georgetown, Berkeley, and Charleston counties under incipient drought status. These nine counties now join the rest of the state with incipient status. The incipient drought declaration is followed by increasing levels of severity to moderate, severe and extreme status.
Hope Mizzell, S.C State Climatologist stated, "The lack of rainfall coverage combined with the unseasonable hot weather has brought all counties into the first stage of drought. Over the last week daily evaporation rates have reached as high as 0.40". Charleston reported the second driest May on record receiving only 0.41" for the entire month."
Darryl Jones, S.C. Forestry Commission, reported the Keetch Byram Drought Index has reached drought criteria for all counties. Wildfire activity has picked up in the last couple of weeks. The high heat has already impacted the relative greenness of fine fuels in most of the State.
According to U.S. Department of Agriculture, as of May 29 statewide soil moisture levels were reported as 14 percent or very short, 42 percent or short, 43 percent or adequate, and 1 percent or surplus.
During incipient drought, the S.C. Department of Natural Resources activates the Drought Information Center and increases monitoring and notification of the drought status.
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 | ||||
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Normal | Incipient | Moderate | Severe | Extreme |
County Status |
County Status |
County Status |
County Status |
County Status |
ABBEVILLE Incipient |
AIKEN Incipient |
ALLENDALE Incipient |
ANDERSON Incipient |
BAMBERG Incipient |
BARNWELL Incipient |
BEAUFORT Incipient |
BERKELEY Incipient |
CALHOUN Incipient |
CHARLESTON Incipient |
CHEROKEE Incipient |
CHESTER Incipient |
CHESTERFIELD Incipient |
CLARENDON Incipient |
COLLETON Incipient |
DARLINGTON Incipient |
DILLON Incipient |
DORCHESTER Incipient |
EDGEFIELD Incipient |
FAIRFIELD Incipient |
FLORENCE Incipient |
GEORGETOWN Incipient |
GREENVILLE Incipient |
GREENWOOD Incipient |
HAMPTON Incipient |
HORRY Incipient |
JASPER Incipient |
KERSHAW Incipient |
LANCASTER Incipient |
LAURENS Incipient |
LEE Incipient |
LEXINGTON Incipient |
MARION Incipient |
MARLBORO Incipient |
MCCORMICK Incipient |
NEWBERRY Incipient |
OCONEE Incipient |
ORANGEBURG Incipient |
PICKENS Incipient |
RICHLAND Incipient |
SALUDA Incipient |
SPARTANBURG Incipient |
SUMTER Incipient |
UNION Incipient |
WILLIAMSBURG Incipient |
YORK Incipient |
SC Drought Response Committee Meeting, June 2, 2011 Sign-In sheet | |
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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.