For previously issued drought statements see the archived status reports.
Table of all counties and drought status.With anticipation of heavy rain on the way, the Drought Response Committee voted on Feb. 3 to maintain the first level of drought for 37 counties. The information conveyed by the long term indicators shows the potential for ongoing drought despite recent rain activity.
Marlboro, Dillon, Marion, Florence, Horry, Williamsburg, Georgetown, Berkeley, and Charleston counties continue with no drought 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, "Some people may question why we are talking about drought since it appears winter has been very cold with normal rainfall. In reality, while we have had clouds, snow and rain, the actual amount of precipitation received has been much lower than average for the majority of the state. Most sites in the Pee Dee region have received less than 3.5" since December 1 which is only 40 percent of what they normally receive. Places like Walhalla recorded closer to normal rainfall, but are still reporting a deficit."
Station | Rainfall Totals | Percent of Normal |
---|---|---|
Cheraw | 2.98" | 38% |
Winnsboro | 3.28" | 39" |
Florence | 3.14" | 40% |
Johnston | 3.57" | 40% |
Sumter | 3.57" | 42% |
Columbia | 3.55" | 43% |
Laurens | 4.25" | 46% |
Gaffney | 4.47" | 50% |
Orangeburg | 4.19" | 50% |
Greenwood | 4.82" | 53% |
McColl | 3.59" | 54% |
Spartanburg | 5.36" | 56% |
Ware Shoals | 4.85" | 56% |
Chester | 4.74" | 56% |
Saluda | 5.19" | 58% |
Charleston AFB | 4.74" | 63% |
Anderson | 7.33" | 73% |
Pickens | 8.27" | 77% |
Newberry | 8.19" | 91% |
Ken Rentiers, Deputy Director, Land, Water, and Conservation Division emphasized, "Winter is our recharge season. During winter when demand and evaporation are low we depend on the rains to recharge our surface and groundwater."
Darryl Jones, S.C. Forestry Commission, reported that dry winter conditions resulted in increased wildfire activity across the state, "In January, the Forestry Commission responded to 247 wildfires across the state that burned more than 1,000 acres. That's a lot more fires than we normally see in January and indicates that our wildfire season is starting a little early this year. We encourage the public to be extremely careful if they choose to conduct outdoor burning and to make sure they follow all of the applicable state laws. This includes notifying the Forestry Commission before you burn, having adequate firebreaks and equipment in place to keep the fire under control and staying with the fire until it is completely safe." Please contact Darryl Jones for questions about wildfire activity at (803) 896-8800.
During incipient drought, DNR activates the Drought Information Center and increases monitoring and notification of the drought status.
Current Drought Status by County | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
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 Normal |
CALHOUN Incipient |
CHARLESTON Normal |
CHEROKEE Incipient |
CHESTER Incipient |
CHESTERFIELD Incipient |
CLARENDON Incipient |
COLLETON Incipient |
DARLINGTON Incipient |
DILLON Normal |
DORCHESTER Incipient |
EDGEFIELD Incipient |
FAIRFIELD Incipient |
FLORENCE Normal |
GEORGETOWN Normal |
GREENVILLE Incipient |
GREENWOOD Incipient |
HAMPTON Incipient |
HORRY Normal |
JASPER Incipient |
KERSHAW Incipient |
LANCASTER Incipient |
LAURENS Incipient |
LEE Incipient |
LEXINGTON Incipient |
MARION Normal |
MARLBORO Normal |
MCCORMICK Incipient |
NEWBERRY Incipient |
OCONEE Incipient |
ORANGEBURG Incipient |
PICKENS Incipient |
RICHLAND Incipient |
SALUDA Incipient |
SPARTANBURG Incipient |
SUMTER Incipient |
UNION Incipient |
WILLIAMSBURG Normal |
YORK Incipient |
SC Drought Response Committee Meeting, February 3, 2011 Sign-In sheet | |
---|---|
Name & Agency | Name & Agency |
David Baize - DHEC Dean Moss - BJWSA Vernon Osteen - SRNS Elbert Warren - DCWSA Eric Odom - Orangeburg DPU Jimmy Bagley - City of Rock Hill Jon Sherer - City of Columbia Mitch Turner - SJWD Water District Warren Harris - Salem Water Bobby Brock - Marlboro Water Co. Pickens Williams Jr. - Barnwell County |
Ed Saxon - BJWSA Scott Willet - Anderson Regional Water John Shelton - USGS Steve Hammond - Duke Energy Gregory Lamberty - NWS Columbia Francis Tubilino - SCEMD Darryl Jones - SC Forestry Commission Mike Hancock - Lugoff-Elgin Water Authority Brenda Nettles - Barnwell Ken Rentiers - SC DNR LWC Doug Young - Chickasaw Point POA Hope Mizzell - SC DNR LWC |
Find out more about the State Climatology Office at https://www.dnr.sc.gov/climate/sco/ or by calling (803) 734-9100.