South Carolina Current Drought Status

Current Water Conservation Actions by County

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State Climate Office 803-734-9100
SPECIAL NEWS RELEASE #09-18 DNR News 803-734-3815
December 9, 2009

DROUGHT OFFICIALLY OVER FOR ALL SOUTH CAROLINA COUNTIES

South Carolina Drought Map for December 9, 2009

Move cursor over the dates below to view a previous drought status map.
Oct 16, 2009 | Sep 24, 2009 | Sep 2, 2009 | Jun 10, 2009 | Apr 15, 2009 | Feb 19, 2009 |
Oct 28, 2008 | Sep 16, 2008 | Aug 5, 2008 | Jun 30, 2008 | Apr 16, 2008 | Jan 22, 2008 |
Sep 5, 2007 | Jun 6, 2007 | May 8, 2007 | Feb 23, 2007 | Sep 20, 2006 | Aug 16, 2006 |
Apr 27, 2006 |
For previously issued drought statements see the archived status reports.

Table of all counties and drought status.
Drought Response Committee Meeting Sign-In sheet.

Discussion:

The drought is officially over for all South Carolina counties after the State agency members of the S.C. Drought Response Committee removed the incipient declaration for 9 counties on Wednesday, December 9, 2009. Much of the State, including the counties that were still in drought, received 150% to 300% of normal rainfall over the past 30 to 60 days. According to Hope Mizzell, S.C. State Climatologist, the wet pattern this fall (September through November) was just what was needed to saturate the ground and jump start refilling and recharging our lakes and groundwater. Some areas of the State such as Walhalla reported the wettest fall on record receiving 27.65" that is 14.8" above normal.

The wet pattern is expected to continue based on NOAA's long-range projections. According to Mark Malsick, S.C. State Climatology Office Severe Weather Liaison, "The current El Nino pattern has established an active, productive storm track over the southern US that will continue to deliver rainfall events to South Carolina every 4-5 days. This southerly track allows storms to tap into abundant warm moist Gulf of Mexico air. This warm moist air increases the chances for State-wide precipitation, and also intensifies the passing storms, which ensures even more rainfall per storm. The long range computer models continue to advertise this wet early winter trend through January."

Contact South Carolina State Climatologist Dr.Hope Mizzell in Columbia at (803) 734-9568 or e-mail at mizzellh@dnr.sc.gov for more information.

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Drought Status Table

Current Drought Status by County
Normal	Incipient	Moderate	Severe	Extreme
County Status	County Status	County Status	County Status	County Status
ABBEVILLE Normal	AIKEN Normal	ALLENDALE Normal	ANDERSON Normal	BAMBERG Normal
BARNWELL Normal	BEAUFORT Normal	BERKELEY Normal	CALHOUN Normal	CHARLESTON Normal
CHEROKEE Normal	CHESTER Normal	CHESTERFIELD Normal	CLARENDON Normal	COLLETON Normal
DARLINGTON Normal	DILLON Normal	DORCHESTER Normal	EDGEFIELD Normal	FAIRFIELD Normal
FLORENCE Normal	GEORGETOWN Normal	GREENVILLE Normal	GREENWOOD Normal	HAMPTON Normal
HORRY Normal	JASPER Normal	KERSHAW Normal	LANCASTER Normal	LAURENS Normal
LEE Normal	LEXINGTON Normal	MARION Normal	MARLBORO Normal	MCCORMICK Normal
NEWBERRY Normal	OCONEE Normal	ORANGEBURG Normal	PICKENS Normal	RICHLAND Normal
SALUDA Normal	SPARTANBURG Normal	SUMTER Normal	UNION Normal	WILLIAMSBURG Normal
YORK Normal

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Sign-In Sheet

SC Drought Response Committee Meeting, December 9, 2009 Sign-In sheet
Name & Agency	Name & Agency