• The South Carolina Drought Response Committee has maintained a severe drought status for all 46 counties.
• The state is experiencing its driest conditions in 131 years, which has significantly impacted farmers and crop yields.
• Spartanburg Water has asked customers to voluntarily follow water restrictions, while Duke Energy is adjusting reservoir operations.
• Officials state it will take twice the normal rainfall for several months to see a significant improvement in drought conditions.

The South Carolina Drought Response Committee has decided to maintain the severe drought status for all 46 counties in the state.

According to the South Carolina Drought Response Act, there are four levels of drought: incipient, moderate, severe, and extreme.

“You may see other indicators on the news, and there are other drought indicators there that the Drought Response Committee reviews and considers when making their declarations,” said Hope Mizzell, state climatologist with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR).

However, the state’s is the official declaration, she said.

The Drought Response Committee on May 21 based its drought status off reports of near record to record low stream flows, declining groundwater levels, wildfire risks, and reports from farmers across the state regarding crops and livestock. These reports have continued in recent months.

“This just didn’t start in March, February, or even January. The drought conditions have been intensifying since last September. The precipitation deficits have been growing month after month after month, and these low statewide rainfall totals had been breaking records for eight months,” said Mizzell.

The drought conditions declaration has prompted Spartanburg Water to ask customers to voluntarily follow water restrictions from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., a request that went into effect May 22 at 1 p.m. Landrum customers were also asked to voluntarily follow the request, which included limiting irrigation on lawns and other vegetation on private and public property.

“We want to be good stewards of our resources and our local environment. We are luckily supposed to get rain over the coming days. The drought has really been kind of ongoing since August, September of last year, and so we just are seeing record levels of low rain,” said Jennifer Chandler, communications manager at Spartanburg Water. “So we just want to be mindful of that.”

SC experiencing driest conditions since record keeping

South Carolina recently experienced its driest conditions in 131 years of statewide rainfall record keeping. From January to April, the state only received seven inches of rain. The state received 16.3 inches of precipitation between September 2025 to April 2026.

Mizell and the Drought Response Committee are hopeful that rainfall in the forecast will ease drought severity. However, summer, when drought conditions typically intensify, hasn’t begun. It will take time for conditions to improve.

“It will take twice the normal rainfall, per week, for several months, to see a significant improvement in the drought.” said Mizzell.

The region is in the state’s top five driest year since 1962, when rainfall records at the Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport first began being recorded.

Drought is having ‘significant toll’ on SC farmers

South Carolina farmer are facing uncertain times, and the drought is another challenge that is taking a “significant toll.”

“They’re seeing wilting corn, increased irrigation cost, concern that their irrigation ponds are going to completely dry up,” Mizzell said. “They have a lack of forage for hay or grass for their livestock to graze on. They have low hay fields.”

Some farmers have had to stop growing cotton, peanuts, and soybean altogether due to a lack of moisture in the ground for germinations while others have reported to the SCDNR that the 2026 wheat crop is a total loss.

“We had one livestock farmer report to us that his first spring cutting of hay yielded 80% lower than normal. And the low spring hay yields will jeopardize their winter hay storage for feeding cows,” Mizzell said.

Impacts on farmers from this spring’s low hay yields will be seen through the winter and into the next spring season.

Is SC prepared for extreme drought conditions?

Spartanburg Water is continuing to monitor and evaluate current drought conditions. The water company, which serves 200,000 in Spartanburg County, is supplied by three reservoirs: Lake Bowen, Lake Blalock, and Municipal Reservoir #1, although it does not currently pull from Lake Blalock. In addition, the company is supplied by a treatment plant and Landrum facility.

Communications manager Jennifer Chandler said the company is following its drought management plan and that storage capacity across all suppliers is not of concern at this time.

“We are incredibly blessed in this region with not only our water quality, but water quantity,” she said. “I’m always reading about out west and the issues that they’re facing and whatnot. So yes, while this drought is troubling, with proactive steps ― constant monitoring, constant assessment, like I said, depending on how this goes ― if we need to move to mandatory restrictions, it would just be, like I said, mandatory restrictions on non-essential water usage.”

Non-essential water usage would apply to activities like irrigation, car washing, and not washing your dishes on a full load.

Chandlers also said drought conditions are unlikely to affect rates or surcharges for customers during mandatory restrictions, although customers who use water excessively during the event could be impacted. For instance, daily water usage for a family of four is 5,000 gallons a day on average. A customer who exceeds this amount under mandatory restrictions will be warned by the company before seeing extra charges on their utility bill.

Duke Energy said the drought is not affecting its ability to serve Upstate customers. Although the company is not a primary public water utility, it indirectly supplies water by owning and operating major reservoirs and hydro projects, which are used for power generation and drinking-water withdrawals.

The Keowee-Toxaway Hydroelectric Project, and related reservoirs like Lake Jocasee and Lake Keowee, provide recreational opportunities for locals, cooling water for Oconee Nuclear Station, public water supplies, and significant wildlife habitat.

COLUMBIA, S.C.- Early voting begins Tuesday in South Carolina’s primary elections as state lawmakers continue debating a proposed congressional redistricting map that could change the state’s political landscape.

The South Carolina Senate advanced the proposed map Saturday, setting up a final vote expected Tuesday at the State House. If approved, the plan would redraw the state’s congressional districts, including the 6th Congressional District, represented by longtime Democratic U.S. Rep. James E. Clyburn.

The proposal would also delay U.S. House primaries until Aug. 18. The South Carolina Election Commission has estimated that the delay would cost roughly $5 million to administer.

But for voters heading to the polls Tuesday, Richland County elections officials said there are no current ballot changes in place.

“Currently, there are no changes or new laws in place to comment on,” the Richland County elections director said. “Everything will operate as normal.”

The director also addressed questions about why Republican primary ballots include advisory questions, while Democratic primary ballots do not.

“Primary ballot advisory questions are party-specific and come from the state party itself,” he said. “You would need to reach out to the parties about specific questions that were added to their ballot. Think of it as two separate elections.”

Some Midlands voters said they are trying to keep up with both the redistricting debate and the issues they want candidates to address.

Roger Davis, a Midlands voter, said he believes voting remains important even when political discussions feel difficult to follow.

“I don’t think there’s any problem with casting a ballot,” Davis said. “I think it’s important that people voice their opinions, especially in the polls.”

Davis said he believes people should pay closer attention to how decisions at the State House connect to local communities.

“We need to get down to the grassroots with politics and the legislature and locally as well because it feeds and supports the local people,” Davis said.

Travis Brown said he is focused on issues affecting families every day, including gas, food and the cost of living.

“It’s really hard out here for people,” Brown said. “And I just hope it gets better because there are a lot of families. They got single parents, and it’s really hard on them.”

Albert Henry said voters who feel discouraged should still cast a ballot.

“You know, I tell them, go and vote,” Henry said. “But some of them will say, ‘Hey, mine ain’t gonna count.’”

Clyburn is expected to vote Tuesday morning in Orangeburg on the first day of early voting. His office said he will cast his ballot at 9 a.m. at the Orangeburg County Administrative Center at 1437 Amelia Street.

After voting, Clyburn is expected to hold a press conference addressing the redistricting proposal and the potential impact of splitting up his district, including what it could mean for voters in the Midlands.

Early voting for South Carolina’s primary elections begins Tuesday at 8:30 a.m. and ends Friday, June 5. Early voting centers are open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Richland County voters are also reminded that the county elections office has moved. Since November 2025, the office has been located at 300 Columbia Mall Blvd., the former Columbia Mall.

CLARENDON COUNTY, S.C. – A Huger woman died after being hit by an umbrella during storms that hit the Midlands on Saturday night.

According to Clarendon County Coroner Jacqueline Blackwell, a 56-year-old woman from Huger died while eating at the Driftwood Grill, a Lake Marion restaurant, Saturday night after an umbrella got loose and hit her.

Clarendon County Sheriff Tim Baxley said the umbrella hit her in the neck, severing her carotid artery. Blackwell confirmed she died at the scene.

Officials attribute the umbrella coming loose to high winds during the Saturday night storms.

According to the coroner’s office, an autopsy is scheduled for Wednesday.

Driftwood Grill issued a statement in a post on Facebook:

“Our hearts are with the family, friends, and loved ones affected by the tragic incident during last night’s sudden severe weather event at Lake Marion.

This has deeply affected many people in our community, including guests, staff, first responders, and everyone involved. Out of respect for the family and those impacted, we ask for continued prayers, compassion, and privacy during this incredibly difficult time.

We are grateful for the emergency personnel and community members who responded and assisted during the situation.

Please continue to keep everyone affected in your thoughts and prayers.”