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 November 10, 1998 Drought Status Report
South Carolina Department of Natural Resources
Declares a
Drought for South Carolina
On the basis of recent low precipitation totals statewide, declining
soil moisture levels, and declining surface water flows, and under the
authority of the S.C. Drought Response Act of 1985, the South Carolina
Department of Natural Resources has issued an incipient drought declaration
for the entire state.
At the incipient drought level, one of four levels defined in the
legislation, the DNR increases its monitoring activities of drought-related
variables such as precipitation, temperature, runoff, streamflow,
evaporation, groundwater levels, soil moisture, reservoir levels, and other
data. The DNR is also required to notify the affected areas and to serve as
the primary agency to coordinate the State's response.
According to Dr. Michael Helfert, State Climatologist in the Department's
Land, Water & Conservation Division, "The NOAA Climate Prediction Center (CPC)
has issued climate outlooks that indicate that abnormally dry conditions will
most likely persist through the winter and spring of 1998/99. The State
Climatology Office is concerned about the impacts of this climate outlook
for our rain-fed agricultural sector, forestry, and water storage providers.
There is particular concern about the advisability of normal deep drawdowns
of regional reservoirs this coming winter for seasonal cleaning and
maintenance. The NOAA climate outlook for the forthcoming winter and
spring is dependent upon the persistence of the 'moderate' La Nina cold
phase in the Equatorial Pacific Ocean. Historical La Nina precipitation
patterns should be a component in agricultural and hydrologic
decision-making."
The State Climatology Office has reviewed the historical precipitation
records for the 20th Century La Ninas to determine the lowest precipitation
totals in the Southeast, state-by-state, during La Nina episodes. Most
impacted by previous La Nina droughts have been Florida and South Carolina.
In these two states, the five-month winter-spring rainfall "worst case"
precipitation total during a severe La Nina is estimated to be as low as
one-third of the normal. For South Carolina, records show that the most
likely scenario for a forthcoming La Nina dry winter and spring is that the
five months of December-April will have a precipitation total with a range of
as great as 21.9" to as little as 12.75". The greatest probability, according
to the guidance of the NOAA climate outlook, is for the lower range of 12.75"
rather than the normal statewide average of just over 20" of rainfall for the
December 1998 through April 1999 timeframe.
Complicating matters is that precipitation across the state has been
suppressed since June 1998. If the influence of a few remnant tropical
storms is subtracted from the 1998 summer and early autumn rainfall totals,
South Carolina's rainfall would be minimal. At this time, most crops have
completed their life cycle and harvests are being completed. One of the
primary concerns is that soil moisture conditions are under 10% of normal
capacity in large areas of the state. Additionally streamflows and
reservoir/lake levels are already at very low levels following the minimal
rains of September and October. These present low soil and surface water
conditions should be of great concern as we are apparently in only the early
stages of a reduced precipitation period.
The recent showers have brought little relief to this rainfall deficit.
Statewide rainfall has averaged 55% of normal for the period October 1 -
November 9, 1998. Rainfall deficits for specific areas of the state are as
follows (see attached map): Allendale (50%), Anderson (30%), Columbia (9%),
Charleston (55%), Florence (8%), Greenville-Spartanburg (62%), Myrtle Beach
(63%), and Saluda (61%).
Lack of precipitation has produced dangerously dry forest fuel conditions
throughout the Sandhill belt and Pee Dee of South Carolina. Conditions in
the lower Coastal Plain are less severe, but fuels there are also unseasonably
dry. "The fuel bed is ready to burn", said Ken Cabe, Fire Information Officer
from the South Carolina Forestry Commission. "If we start getting wind the
fire danger is going to escalate rapidly."
The National Weather Service 6-10 day outlook is for normal precipitation
and below normal temperature. Mayors, county administrators, public service
districts, and local water suppliers are asked to review their drought
response plans and ordinances and notify the Department's Drought Information
Center in Columbia at 803-737-0800 if drought ordinances or plans are
implemented, or if other related problems arise.
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:
http://www.dnr.sc.gov/climate/sco/drought_info.html
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: MIKE HELFERT OR HOPE MIZZELL
IN COLUMBIA AT
(803) 737-0800.
Find out more about the State Climatology Office at http://www.dnr.sc.gov/climate/sco/ or by calling (803) 734-9100.
