For previously issued drought statements see the archived status reports.
Table of all counties and drought status.State and local Drought Response Committee members declared a "moderate" drought status for the entire state Wednesday, May 30.
The state and local Drought Response Committee, which met Wednesday, May 30, in Columbia to review conditions and discuss the state's drought status, approved a four-part motion made by Dean Moss, committee member and general manager of the Beaufort/Jasper Water and Sewer Authority in Beaufort.
The four-part motion provided that: 1) A moderate drought condition is declared for the entire state. 2) The probability of going to severe drought status is high and depends on how much rainfall the state receives over the next two to three weeks. 3) Agriculture, as an economic sector, is already in what appears to be a nearly crisis situation. Rainfall is needed to replenish irrigation supplies and enable crop production. 4) The committee advises all water users that in the near future the situation could become critical. Contingency plans should be made to ensure adequate water supplies in the event of a future serious water shortage.
The committee's decision upgrades the status of two coastal counties, Beaufort and Charleston, along with nine Pee Dee counties - Chesterfield, Darlington, Dillon, Florence, Georgetown, Horry, Marion, Marlboro and Williamsburg - from an "incipient" drought, the first drought level, to the next level of "moderate" drought. The committee stopped short of declaring a "severe" drought status for portions of the Upstate as some had anticipated. The 35 remaining South Carolina counties already listed in the "moderate" drought level remained unchanged.
A moderate drought declaration, the second of four drought levels specified in the S.C. Drought Response Act of 2000, means that drought conditions have continued to deteriorate and are expected to persist.
Freddy Vang, deputy director of the S.C. Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Land, Water and Conservation Division, says this is just the beginning of the process. "Long-term forecast projections have been remarkably accurate," Vang said. "Based on the outlook, there is a strong probability that the situation is going to get worse between July and October when we have above-normal temperatures and low stream flows. It's prudent that we declare the entire state in moderate drought status with the condition that we continue to monitor. Without significant rainfall we may have to reconvene and upgrade to severe."
Masaaki Kiuchi, S.C. Department of Natural Resources (DNR) hydrologist, reported groundwater, streamflows and lake levels across the state remain very low. Recent rain should increase streamflow across the state for a short period of time.
Recreational boaters are urged to watch dropping water levels in streams and lakes that could create hazardous conditions and to proceed with extreme caution. Major Alvin Taylor, DNR coordinator of boating safety programs, urges all boaters to be alert to the new water hazards such as shallow water, stumps, logs and old pilings and rocks created by falling waters.
Kiuchi says as temperatures rise and the demand is higher, water should be retained in the lakes as much as possible. The shallow groundwater table in the Coastal Plain and Upstate have benefited from recent rain. However, the response to rain in the Upstate is slow.
David Baize, a director in the bureau of water at the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC), says DHEC has contacted water suppliers and dischargers informing them of the status of the drought. "Dischargers are advised to maximize treatment and minimize discharges," Baize said. "DHEC continues to monitor stream quality accordingly. Water suppliers are advised to take appropriate actions to help ensure adequate water for their customers and to notify DHEC of any problems."
Ken Cabe of the S.C. Forestry Commission says recent showers have temporarily improved wildfire conditions, but wildland fire managers say the relief may be short-lived. "So far this month, wildfire occurrence has been twice what is normally expected for May," Cabe said. "During the month, Forestry Commission firefighters have already responded to 670 wildland blazes that burned more than 3,000 acres of forest land."
But fire is only one area where drought is impacting the state's woodlands. Foresters say if the drought continues, many of the tree seedlings planted last winter are expected to die. If so, this could be the second year in a row for significant reforestation failures due to dry weather.
The DNR will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as needed. Integrated drought information is available on the DNR's State Climatology Office Internet Web Site.
STATION | Precipitation (Inches) | Deviation From 30 Year Normal |
---|---|---|
Conway | 155.6 | 3.5 |
Dillon | 128.8 | -6.9 |
Florence 8E | 126.9 | -10.4 |
Orangeburg 2 | 122.8 | -17.8 |
Bishopville 8NNW | 118.0 | -17.9 |
Walterboro 2SW | 135.3 | -18.1 |
Saluda | 126.8 | -18.4 |
Camden 3W | 117.5 | -20.8 |
Chester 1NW | 122.0 | -23.2 |
Cheraw | 121.7 | -23.9 |
Charleston AFB | 130.2 | -24.3 |
Edgefield 3NNE | 112.0 | -26.6 |
Johnston 4SW | 120.6 | -27.0 |
Fort Mill 4NW | 115.2 | -27.3 |
Sumter | 116.1 | -28.1 |
Beaufort 7SW | 122.4 | -31.1 |
Aiken 4NE | 117.9 | -35.0 |
Union 8SW | 112.3 | -38.6 |
Clemson Univ. | 123.7 | -39.4 |
GRNVL SPART WSO | 109.5 | -44.2 |
Cleveland 4S | 133.3 | -48.2 |
Walhalla | 135.3 | -49.2 |
Contact Dr. Mizzell in Columbia at (803) 734-9568 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 Moderate |
AIKEN Moderate |
ALLENDALE Moderate |
ANDERSON Moderate |
BAMBERG Moderate |
BARNWELL Moderate |
BEAUFORT Moderate |
BERKELEY Moderate |
CALHOUN Moderate |
CHARLESTON Moderate |
CHEROKEE Moderate |
CHESTER Moderate |
CHESTERFIELD Moderate |
CLARENDON Moderate |
COLLETON Moderate |
DARLINGTON Moderate |
DILLON Moderate |
DORCHESTER Moderate |
EDGEFIELD Moderate |
FAIRFIELD Moderate |
FLORENCE Moderate |
GEORGETOWN Moderate |
GREENVILLE Moderate |
GREENWOOD Moderate |
HAMPTON Moderate |
HORRY Moderate |
JASPER Moderate |
KERSHAW Moderate |
LANCASTER Moderate |
LAURENS Moderate |
LEE Moderate |
LEXINGTON Moderate |
MARION Moderate |
MARLBORO Moderate |
MCCORMICK Moderate |
NEWBERRY Moderate |
OCONEE Moderate |
ORANGEBURG Moderate |
PICKENS Moderate |
RICHLAND Moderate |
SALUDA Moderate |
SPARTANBURG Moderate |
SUMTER Moderate |
UNION Moderate |
WILLIAMSBURG Moderate |
YORK Moderate |
SC Drought Response Committee Meeting, May 31, 2001 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.