Much needed rainfall is expected over South Carolina this weekend, which should help address the ongoing drought across parts of the state.
Drought conditions persist across parts of the Palmetto State, this according to the latest information released by the National Drought Mitigation Center on Thursday. In their report scientists at the USDA included the majority of the Pee Dee under a Moderate Drought category (level 2/5), with a small part of the region, near Sumter, under a Severe Drought (level 3/5). These category classifications are a slight improvement from those released last week, when most of the Pee Dee was considered under a severe drought.
Additional improvement is expected to ensue over the coming days, thanks to an approaching storm system. A mid-level disturbance that has soaked the lower Mississippi Valley with rain this week is expected to emerge over the Southeastern United States this weekend. Atmospheric forcing provided by this feature should combine with a moisture-rich airmass to produce widespread showers and thunderstorms. Rainfall could be heavy at times over northern sections of the state on Friday and Saturday, and along and east of the I-95 corridor on Sunday.
By the end of the weekend, widespread rainfall accumulations between 1-2 inches are expected across the aforementioned areas, with locally higher amounts possible. Although this will not completely erase the drought that has developed over parts of the state, it should contribute to a gradual return to normal conditions.