Entire State of South Carolina Now Facing Some Level of Drought

Modest rain and high temperatures this summer have pushed South Carolina into a drought.

The South Carolina Drought Response Committee met last week and upgraded the drought status for the entire state.

A release from the committee says that 28 of the state’s 46 counties are now in a moderate drought. Those counties are generally in the Midlands east to the coast.

Counties in the western Midlands and the Upstate, as well as Beaufort and Jasper counties, are in the first level of drought, an incipient drought.

State Climatologist Hope Mizzell says rainfall levels have varied widely across the state and even in some counties. Some areas of York County, she says, have received less than 2 inches of rain since June 1 while other areas have received 7 inches.

Related:

• Drought Conditions Affecting 28 South Carolina Counties
• Crop Insurance Payments for Drought More Than for Flooding
• It’s a Myth That Summer Storms Mitigate Droughts: Researcher

Topics South Carolina