Charleston Faces Drought Challenges: All Counties in South Carolina on Alert
Charleston, South Carolina, is currently experiencing some challenging weather conditions as the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) Drought Response Committee has officially declared an incipient drought in all 46 counties across the state. This declaration comes on the heels of an extraordinarily dry October, where the average precipitation was a mere 0.13 inches. To put this in perspective, October typically sees an average of 2.99 inches of rain!
The Driest October in Over Two Decades
Hope Mizzell, the state climatologist, pointed out that October and November are usually the driest months for South Carolina, even under normal rainfall circumstances. However, the current year has been far from normal. In fact, October 2023 recorded the second-driest conditions on record; the last time it was this dry was back in 2000. Horry County, for example, received about 0.19 inches of rain, which is still 2.85 inches below its average.
Recent Rainfall: A Double-Edged Sword
Interestingly, since the committee announced the drought declaration last week, many areas in South Carolina have finally seen some rain. However, despite this welcome precipitation, drought conditions remain a pressing issue. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, on November 5, around 36% of South Carolina faced moderate drought conditions. Fast forward to November 12, and that’s decreased to just 11%, but 72% of the state is still considered abnormally dry, while 28% is thankfully experiencing no dryness at all.
Horry County, specifically, has not enjoyed the same luck. Mizzell reported that the rainfall has diminished to less than a half-inch, failing to make a significant impact. In fact, a concerning 63% of Horry County residents are finding themselves in moderate drought conditions, which is a ten percent increase since the previous week.
What It Will Take to Break the Drought
So, what needs to happen for Horry County and other affected areas to fully recover? The answer is not straightforward. The type and duration of rainfall really play a critical role in alleviating drought conditions. “Brief, isolated rain events don’t benefit the area the same way consistent precipitation does,” Mizzell explained. Even a heavy downpour can lead to runoff if the ground is too dry to absorb it quickly—leaving many in desperation.
Mizzell also mentioned that we are currently in the earliest stages of drought, so it doesn’t look like it will take extensive periods of rainfall to see changes. In fact, just a couple of months of normal rains could do the trick!
Eyes on a Dry Winter Ahead
However, there is some concern on the horizon. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has indicated that Horry County might be in for below-normal precipitation this winter due to a potentially developing La Niña effect. This could extend drought conditions further into spring, which is quite worrisome since winter is the time to recharge groundwater and surface water levels.
A Silver Lining?
Though uncertainty looms over the upcoming months, Mizzell offered a glimmer of hope: the water levels in local lakes are normal, and most streams are flowing as they should. As she aptly put it, “It’ll just depend on how much rain we get over the winter.”
As of now, South Carolina’s Drought Response Committee is set to reconvene on December 4 to update counties on their drought statuses and monitor how conditions evolve, but for now, residents can check weekly updates on the situation from the U.S. Drought Monitor. In the meantime, let’s all keep our fingers crossed for some much-needed rain!
