Drought conditions spread across South Carolina

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WCSC) – Recent hot and dry conditions have resulted in the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources upgrading all 46 of the states counties to some level of drought.

Charleston, Berkeley and Beaufort Counties are currently classified as incipient, while Dorchester and Colleton Counties are classified as moderate.

Hardest hit are 15 counties in the Pee Dee Region, including Williamsburg and Georgetown Counties, which have been upgraded from no drought to severe drought. State Climatologist Hope Mizzell said such an increase is unprecedented.

“The weather hasn’t exactly followed the rules over the last month,” Mizzell said. “We experienced a wet winter, a relatively wet spring and then June hit. The rain stopped and thermostat soared.”

Water levels in the Black River and the Little Pee Dee River are reaching critically low levels and conditions will continue to worsen without above normal rainfall in the coming weeks. Since early June, many parts of the state have received less than 2.5 inches of rain.

Joe Ghent, who represents the Pee Dee on the South Carolina Drought Response Committee, said most early planted corn in the region has been lost due to drought. The U.S. Farm Agency in South Carolina said many counties are looking at a 50 percent yield reduction in the corn crop.

If drought conditions continue, the 2024 cotton, soybean and peanut crops will also be affected.

High temperatures and low rainfall have also resulted in an increase in wildfire activity. Between June 1 and July 7, the South Carolina Forestry Commission responded to more than 200 wildfires, 77 percent higher than the state’s 10-year average.

The high number of fires is the result of the rapid evaporation of moisture in plants and soil due to elevated temperatures.

To prevent forest fires, the South Carolina Forestry Commission recommends that South Carolinians postpone outdoor burning whenever possible.

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