Debby demolishes South Carolina’s drought in a matter of days

While Tropical Storm Debby created massive problems for South Carolina after record rains and flooding, there is a silver lining in those rain clouds: most of South Carolina’s counties have been declared drought-free.

The South Carolina Drought Response Committee said 38 of the state’s 46 counties had received enough rain to lift them out of drought. The counties remaining in drought are in the Upstate – primarily in the northwest corner of the state. Meteorologists say the State remained in a drought throughout July until Debby’s landfall in early August.

Most of South Carolina saw 5 to 10 inches of rain from the storm, though some areas received far more. Excessive rainfall amounts in most of the state were primarily due to Tropical Storm Debby. That has brought a dramatic increase in streamflow and groundwater levels for the Coastal Plain and a significant part of the Piedmont. The streamflow and rainfall conditions in the western part of the Upstate have not improved as much as other parts of the state.

But too much of a good thing, can also mean bad news too. Too much rain can also be tough on crops. Growers in the Lowcountry and Pee Dee regions are facing excess moisture issues from the heavy rains, including flooding, field and crop damage, and increased mold and disease pressure.
The Drought Response Committee will meet to review the counties remaining in drought status on Sept. 4.