For previously issued drought statements see the archived status reports.
Table of all counties and drought status.South Carolina’s drought has been downgraded for all except 9 upstate counties - Oconee, Pickens, Anderson, Greenville, Spartanburg Cherokee, Union, Laurens and York - which remain at severe status.
The State and Northwest Drought Response Committees met Thursday morning, Sept. 30 in Greenville to discuss drought conditions across South Carolina and in the upstate.
Recent rains have not been sufficient to ameliorate drought conditions in the upstate where the rainfall deficit since Jan. 1 is still 15 to 20 inches, according to Hope Mizzell, drought coordinator with the S.C. Department of Natural Resources. "There is also great concern in the upstate about forest fires, many of which over the past month have been attributed to negligent burning. This is one time that citizens can make a difference. Some smaller water suppliers in the upstate have gone to mandatory water use restrictions."
The drought was downgraded to incipient, initial level, for five counties including Jasper, Hampton, Beaufort, Colleton and Charleston. There is still a 2-inch rainfall deficit for the year in Charleston.
The drought advisory was completely removed from four counties - Horry, Georgetown, Marion and Dillon where rains have been sufficient to make up the rainfall deficit.
A moderate level drought declaration remains in effect for the rest of South Carolina. Just in the midlands there is a 7 to 9 inch rainfall deficit since the first of the year.
The long-range NOAA outlook predicts that drought conditions for South Carolina will continue through May of 2000 statewide and that the recent rains are only a temporary relief, according to Mizzell "If not for Hurricane Floyd and moisture from tropical storm Harvey the entire state would be in the same condition as the nine counties in the upstate."
The state and upstate drought committees meeting in Greenville Thursday evaluated drought conditions within the Northwest Drought Management Area (DMA) to determine if a need exists for action beyond the scope of local government. The continued severity of drought conditions in the northwestern region of the state has generated major concerns regarding water supply problems and potential forest fires.
For more information regarding the state and Northwest Drought Response Committee meeting contact to Hope Mizzell, drought coordinator with the S.C. Department of Natural Resources, at (803) 737-0800 in Columbia.
The DNR will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as needed. Integrated drought information is available on the DNR's State Climatology Office Internet Web Site.
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 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Normal | Incipient | Moderate | Severe | Extreme |
County Status |
County Status |
County Status |
County Status |
County Status |
ABBEVILLE Moderate |
AIKEN Moderate |
ALLENDALE Moderate |
ANDERSON Severe |
BAMBERG Moderate |
BARNWELL Moderate |
BEAUFORT Incipient |
BERKELEY Moderate |
CALHOUN Moderate |
CHARLESTON Incipient |
CHEROKEE Severe |
CHESTER Moderate |
CHESTERFIELD Moderate |
CLARENDON Moderate |
COLLETON Incipient |
DARLINGTON Moderate |
DILLON Normal |
DORCHESTER Moderate |
EDGEFIELD Moderate |
FAIRFIELD Moderate |
FLORENCE Moderate |
GEORGETOWN Normal |
GREENVILLE Severe |
GREENWOOD Moderate |
HAMPTON Incipient |
HORRY Normal |
JASPER Incipient |
KERSHAW Moderate |
LANCASTER Moderate |
LAURENS Severe |
LEE Moderate |
LEXINGTON Moderate |
MARION Normal |
MARLBORO Moderate |
MCCORMICK Moderate |
NEWBERRY Moderate |
OCONEE Severe |
ORANGEBURG Moderate |
PICKENS Severe |
RICHLAND Moderate |
SALUDA Moderate |
SPARTANBURG Severe |
SUMTER Moderate |
UNION Severe |
WILLIAMSBURG Moderate |
YORK Severe |
SC Drought Response Committee Meeting, September 30, 1999 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.