For previously issued drought statements see the archived status reports.
Table of all counties and drought status.A return to a pattern of below normal rainfall over the past eight months led the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) to issue an incipient drought declaration statewide. SCDNR convened the state agency members of the drought response committee today, June 8, in Columbia to evaluate the overall statewide conditions.
The state is once again facing drought conditions with most locations reporting a 5 to 10 inch rainfall deficit since January. The below normal rainfall is threatening agriculture, reducing streamflow, and beginning to make forest fires harder to control.
We are certainly not yet experiencing the dire conditions experienced during the record drought of 1998-2002, but everyone needs to be aware of the situation and industries and water systems should implement their drought plans as needed.
According to David Tompkins, the SC Department of Agriculture reports adverse impacts to crop quantity and quality. Bud Badr with SC DNR reported that streamflows are the lowest 10 percentile of flow for this time of year. Fortunately, according to David Baize with the SC Department of Health and Environmental Control, no water systems are reporting any supply problems at this time.
Larry Barr with the SC Forestry Commission also reported that wildfire losses over the past seven months have been slightly lower than average despite the rainfall deficit, but firefighters fear that the trend may be changing because fires are becoming harder to control.
The incipient drought declaration is the first level of drought followed by moderate, severe, and extreme. During incipient drought, the SCDNR activates the Drought Information Center, increases monitoring and notification of the drought status. Water systems and industries are encouraged to closely monitor conditions and implement their drought plans as needed.
If conditions continue to deteriorate the SCDNR will convene the full drought response committee in the next two weeks.
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 | ||||
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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 8, 2004 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.