South Carolina drought worsens to severe status in all 46 counties

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) — South Carolina is now in severe drought statewide, with the S.C. Drought Response Committee upgrading conditions for all 46 counties during a unanimous vote on April 30.

Committee members cited record-low streamflows, declining groundwater, increased wildfire risk and worsening impacts to agriculture, including reports from farmers describing some of the worst planting conditions in decades. Producers said dry conditions have delayed or prevented planting for crops such as corn, peanuts, cotton and soybeans, while surface water used for irrigation is nearing unusable levels.

Livestock producers are also worried about hay supplies after weak spring yields, and officials said winter small grains such as wheat, rye and oats are expected to have minimal yield.

The S.C. State Climate Office said recent showers brought isolated totals of up to an inch of rain, but not enough to erase a long-running deficit that has built since September 2025. The state is more than 8 inches below normal since Jan. 1 and more than 14 inches below normal since Sept. 1, 2025.

Even if the upcoming rain materializes, officials said it would take nearly double the normal weekly rainfall for several months to see significant improvement. Preliminary indicators also suggest the September-through-April period could rank among the three driest in South Carolina’s 131-year record.

The S.C. Department of Environmental Services said the state missed out on critical winter rain needed to recharge surface and groundwater, leaving aquifers and stream baseflows vulnerable heading into late spring and summer. Officials reported some private wells going dry and said several water systems have requested voluntary conservation, urging utilities to review local drought plans and residents to check for any restrictions.

Wildfire activity has also intensified. The S.C. Forestry Commission said it responded to 1,216 wildfires that burned more than 11,600 acres since Jan. 1. A statewide burn ban issued April 17 helped reduce new ignitions, officials said, and was lifted statewide May 1 after conditions improved in some areas, though residents were urged to remain cautious with outdoor burning.

The last time all South Carolina counties were at least in severe drought was September 2002, when parts of the state reached the highest category, extreme drought, officials said.

The drought response committee is scheduled to meet again on May 21, 2026.