http://droughtreporter.unl.edu/

v 2.4.3.0

Above normal rainfall in December and January allowed the South Carolina Drought Response Committee to remove the drought status of 27 counties, leaving the entire state free of drought. The 27 counties that returned to normal condition were Aiken, Abbeville, Allendale, Barnwell, Calhoun, Chester, Cherokee, Clarendon, Edgefield, Fairfield, Greenville, Greenwood, Hampton, Kershaw, Lancaster, Laurens, Lee, Lexington, McCormick, Newberry, Orangeburg, Richland, Saluda, Spartanburg, Sumter, Union and York. Department of Natural Resources (Columbia, S.C.), Jan. 30, 2020 The South Carolina Drought Response Committee reassessed conditions and determined that drought had improved across the state, with a lowering or removal of drought designation in 38 counties. Three counties were in moderate drought, and 24 counties were in incipient drought. The committee planned to meet again in mid to late January to revisit the drought status. Orangeburg Times and Democrat (S.C.), Dec. 4, 2019 The South Carolina Drought Response Committee reassessed conditions for the state on Oct. 31 and found that recent rainfall eased conditions somewhat, but that more rain was needed to end drought. Eleven counties transitioned from moderate to incipient drought, joining three counties already at incipient drought. One county went from incipient drought to normal, for five counties in normal condition. Twenty-seven counties remained in moderate drought. Forage production was down after the summer drought, leaving farmers hurriedly planting fall grazing and hoping for moderate temperatures and continued rain to promote growth. Department of Natural Resources (Columbia, S.C.), Oct. 31, 2019 The South Carolina Drought Response Committee announced that the drought statuses of most counties will remain the same through the fall. Beef producers were feeding hay early, soil was very dry for planting winter grazing, and row crop yields were reduced in affected counties. Department of Natural Resources (Columbia, S.C.), Oct. 17, 2019