The South Carolina Drought Response Committee (DRC) met on April 9, 2026, to assess statewide drought conditions.
During the meeting, the Committee upgraded 35 counties from incipient drought to moderate drought. These counties join Abbeville, Anderson, Cherokee, Greenville, Greenwood, Laurens, McCormick, Oconee, Pickens, Spartanburg, and Union counties, which were elevated to moderate drought in early March. All drought indicators supported this upgrade.
The Committee received reports of record-low streamflows, increased wildfire risk, and growing concern among farmers regarding current planting conditions and the outlook for the upcoming growing season.
The South Carolina State Climatology Office provided an overview of rainfall deficits. Statewide precipitation from September through March ranked as the driest in 131 years of record. Typically, South Carolina receives approximately 25 inches of rain during this period; however, only about 10 inches fell this year – just 40% of normal. The state has not experienced consistent, near-normal rainfall since August 2025.
Rainfall deficits are widespread across South Carolina. Since January 1, deficits of up to 7 inches have been reported from the mountains to the coast, highlighting the severity and geographic extent of the current drought conditions.
The DRC is the state’s major drought decision-making entity and determines drought severity as defined by the South Carolina Drought Response Act to protect the state’s natural resources. The act establishes four levels of drought: incipient, moderate, severe, and extreme. For more information about the DRC and the South Carolina Drought Response Program, visit scdrought.com.
