Much of South Carolina Sees Lowered Drought Status

The S.C. Drought Response Committee lowered the drought status for most counties in the state except Abbeville, McCormick, Edgefield and Aiken in the Savannah River Basin, which remain at severe, the third level of drought.

Oconee, Pickens and Anderson counties were downgraded to moderate.

Saluda, Greenwood, Greenville, Newberry and Laurens counties remain at moderate.

All other counties in the state were lowered to the incipient level of drought.

Hope Mizzell, S.C. State Climatologist, noted improving conditions. “A combination of Tropical Storm Beryl and a series of passing frontal boundaries enhanced rainfall and cloud cover over the last three to four weeks for most of the state.”

While there were a few stations reporting much below normal rainfall, many stations reported much above normal rainfall since May 1.

Committee members clarified for those areas questioning why they are still in drought after receiving an abundance of rain. Ground and surface water recovery is still not sufficient to end the drought.

Stan Simpson of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers remains concerned about low lake levels in the Savannah Basin, reporting the last three month inflows into Lake Thurmond have been the lowest recorded since 1954. “Heavier rainfall occurred well below Thurmond dam bringing little relief to the reservoir. Improved rainfall in the upper portion of the basin has helped inflows into Lake Hartwell which enabled the Corps to make releases into Thurmond and keeping it from falling further,” he said.

Drought Response Committee Chairman Ken Rentiers stated, “Conditions are looking better for many parts of the state, but we are entering the hottest time of the year with uncertainty in rainfall patterns going forward.  The Committee will continue to monitor the situation closely and reconvene in four to six weeks or sooner as needed.”