For previously issued drought statements see the archived status reports.
Table of all counties and drought status.Heavy rain over the last 8 days (Sept. 15-Sept. 22) led the S. C. Department of Natural Resources to downgrade the incipient drought declaration for Oconee and Pickens counties. The state agency members of the Drought Response Committee voted on Wednesday Sept. 23, 2009, to remove these counties from drought. An incipient drought was declared for 22 counties earlier this month.
Some of the excessive rainfall totals (Sept. 15-Sept. 22) that prompted the decision include:
| Long Creek - 11.75" |
| Table Rock - 7.98" |
| Walhalla Hatchery (Jocassee) - 17.50" |
| Walhalla - 11.02" |
Supplemental observations from the Community Rain Network include:
| Cleveland - 8.56" |
| Pickens - 7.57" |
| Salem - 12.12" |
| West Union - 9.95" |
According to South Carolina State Climatologist Hope Mizzell, "All the drought indices responded to the rain event. In the past week Lake Jocassee rose 9 feet, Lake Hartwell rose 3 feet, and groundwater levels returned to normal." Darryl Jones with the S.C. Forestry Commission reported that since the recent rains fire occurrence has been low in these areas and fuel moisture has recovered significantly.
Other counties such as Greenville, Anderson, and Abbeville also received significant rainfall that improved conditions, but not enough to remove the drought declaration. The S.C. Department of Natural Resources will continue to monitor conditions across the state.
South Carolina's natural resources are essential for economic development and contribute nearly $30 billion and 230,000 jobs to the state's economy overall. Find out why "Life's Better Outdoors" at: www.dnr.sc.gov/economic/index.html.
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.
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 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Normal | Incipient | Moderate | Severe | Extreme |
| County Status |
County Status |
County Status |
County Status |
County Status |
| ABBEVILLE Incipient |
AIKEN Normal |
ALLENDALE Normal |
ANDERSON Incipient |
BAMBERG Normal |
| BARNWELL Normal |
BEAUFORT Normal |
BERKELEY Normal |
CALHOUN Normal |
CHARLESTON Normal |
| CHEROKEE Incipient |
CHESTER Incipient |
CHESTERFIELD Incipient |
CLARENDON Normal |
COLLETON Normal |
| DARLINGTON Normal |
DILLON Incipient |
DORCHESTER Normal |
EDGEFIELD Incipient |
FAIRFIELD Incipient |
| FLORENCE Normal |
GEORGETOWN Normal |
GREENVILLE Incipient |
GREENWOOD Incipient |
HAMPTON Normal |
| HORRY Normal |
JASPER Normal |
KERSHAW Incipient |
LANCASTER Incipient |
LAURENS Incipient |
| LEE Normal |
LEXINGTON Normal |
MARION Normal |
MARLBORO Incipient |
MCCORMICK Incipient |
| NEWBERRY Incipient |
OCONEE Normal |
ORANGEBURG Normal |
PICKENS Normal |
RICHLAND Normal |
| SALUDA Incipient |
SPARTANBURG Incipient |
SUMTER Normal |
UNION Incipient |
WILLIAMSBURG Normal |
| YORK Incipient |
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| SC Drought Response Committee Meeting, September 24, 2009 Sign-In sheet | |
|---|---|
| Name & Agency | Name & Agency |
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Find out more about the State Climatology Office at https://www.dnr.sc.gov/climate/sco/ or by calling (803) 734-9100.
