Relief from dry conditions

The last few months we've seen a transition from dry to wetter conditions here in South Carolina. Back in November 2014, the South Carolina Drought Response Committee declared the entire state to be in an incipient drought. This is the lowest of the four stages of drought severity used by the committee. This declaration was brought on by low rainfall levels during the preceding months and low stream flow and lake levels. For example Lake Jocassee was 9.7 feet below full pool at the time of the committee's decision.

Luckily, several weeks of wet weather have brought relief from dry conditions and the

committee officially declared the state 'drought free' during their January 15th meeting.

According to Hope Mizzell, South Carolina State Climatologist, "Since many counties were just on the cusp of drought when the Committee upgraded in late November it didn't take excessive rainfall statewide to end the drought. Rainfall totals over the last 30 days (December 15 to January 14) ranged from near normal at places like McClellanville (4.14"), Florence (4.39"), and Sumter (4.25") to much above normal at Hemingway (10.01") and Winnsboro (9.23")."

The winter months always bring a variety of weather to us here in the Carolinas. From sunny days with blue skies like we've seen over the past week in Columbia, to freezing rain, ice and snow like we saw last year at about this time.

Your condition monitoring reports are especially helpful as we keep track of the way these changing weather patterns influence conditions on the ground, particularly as we move from wet to dry or dry to wet conditions.

Happy condition monitoring!