South Carolina Current Drought Status

State Climate Office                 803-734-9100
SPECIAL NEWS RELEASE #10-226          DNR News 803-667-0696
October 7, 2010

HEAVY RAINFALL LAST WEEK RELIEVES DROUGHT CONDITIONS IN NINE COUNTIES

For previously issued drought statements see the archived status reports.

Discussion:

Heavy rainfall last week has alleviated drought conditions in nine counties; Charleston, Berkeley, Georgetown, Williamsburg, Horry Marlboro, Dillon, Marion, and Florence (see table below). According to Mark Malsick, South Carolina State Climatology Office Severe Weather Liaison, "Last week's heavy rain was due to several distinct, inter-related weather features. A passing cold front brought the first rain across the state on Sunday and Monday. This front stalled offshore and became a conduit that tapped into tropical Gulf of Mexico moist air. Midweek, as the remnants of Tropical Storm Nicole streamed north, a compact low pressure center formed on the stalled front triggering more thunderstorms and heavy rain for the coast and Pee Dee region."

Hope Mizzell, S.C. State Climatologist, "September was on tap to be one of the driest on record until last week's rain. For some locations, like Andrews, it went from being the second driest September (0.38") to the fifth wettest (10.18") in 50 years. The very dry conditions preceding the rain helped minimize the flooding impacts. All locations received welcome rain last week, but 37 counties will remain in drought because the rainfall amounts were not sufficient to improve all drought indicators."

25-30 September, 2010 Rainfall Summary: (*Community Collaborative Rain, Hail & Snow Network (COCORAHS) Stations)