Check out the October newsletter!

Throughout the Carolinas, especially in South Carolina, we received a lot of precipitation this month, which has obliterated almost any sign of drought! This month's newsletter focuses why these wet conditions occurred and the impacts they have on local areas. We feature an article on why the recent historic rainfall event occurred in South Carolina and another piece on how extreme rainfall can impact availability of crops, such pumpkins. Our Condition Monitoring Star of the Month, Carl Cole of Charleston County, does a great job reporting about wet conditions in his weekly reports, and we explain how decision makers still find this information useful. You can access the newsletter here or send us an email at cisa@sc.edu if you would like to be added to our email list.

We would love to hear more from you the impacts from these heavy precipitation events in your area and how you report about wet conditions during our next observer conference call on October 29, 2015 from 10 am to 11 am. We would also like to hear your feedback about our second phase of the Condition Monitoring project discussed in last month's newsletter. To join the conversation the conversation next week, call 605-477-2200 and enter the access code 736549 (note: this is not
a toll-free number).

We need your help to document impacts from Hurricane Joaquin this weekend!

Coastal areas in the Carolinas might experience major flooding this weekend, partly thanks to Hurricane Joaquin, which the National Hurricane Center forecasts to travel along the Eastern Seaboard. According to a blog post by Dr. Hal Needham, a "complex interaction between Hurricane Joaquin, a pre-existing cold-front, and a building dome of high pressure" will result in a widespread storm surge event along the East Coast.

We need your help to document local conditions and impacts in your area this weekend that might result from Hurricane Joaquin! If you experience severe weather, please submit reports through the Significant Weather Report on CoCoRaHS website. Additionally, you can also include any impacts from Hurricane Joaquin in your reports. Photos can be sent to cisa@sc.edu. As usual, please let us know if you have any questions.

Cone forecast for Hurricane Joaquin from the National Hurricane Center

Drought disaster declarations in South Carolina provide aid to farmers

Although many parts of the Carolinas received rain the past couple of days, this doesn't erase the crop damages and losses that farmers in South Carolina incurred from drought during the summer growing season. In early September, The State newspaper reports that 35 South Carolina counties have been declared as natural disaster areas by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) due to drought, making these areas eligible for disaster relief funds. Many farmers have crop insurance that they purchase for protection for unanticipated losses and damages from disasters, but the drought disaster declaration also makes them eligible to apply for low-interest loans from the USDA Farm Service Agency if they need more assistance. Additionally, counties next to those where drought disaster declarations have been made also qualify for assistance, making counties in North Carolina and Georgia also eligible for aid. According to a Clemson University media release, crops that experienced damage include corn, cotton, sorghum, soybeans, and peanuts, which mostly occurred due to the extremely high temperatures and isolated rainfall events this summer. Clemson extension specialists also warn that despite forecasts of more rainfall during the winter and spring due to El Niño, which will potentially alleviate the drought, farmers might now be at risk of additional losses due to the excessive rainfall.

The USDA provides relief to farmers, but many of us also have backyard gardens where we grow our own produce and plants that suffered as well. Some of our observers report plant stress by describing how much they irrigate their plants or whether the plants have been wilting or producing fruit later in their condition monitoring reports. As the weather changes this fall, please continue to describe the condition of your plants in your observations, which helps decision makers, such as the state drought management committees, monitor whether plants have been recovering or remain stressed from dry conditions.
 

Devastated corn crops in South Carolina.  

Source: Clemson University Media Release. 

Image Credit: David DeWitt / Clemson University

Have you read the September 2015 newsletter?

If you haven't received a copy of the September 2015 Newsletter, check it out here. This month's newsletter provides an update on Phase 2 of the CoCoRaHS Condition Monitoring Project, and we are looking for your feedback as we consider how to improve the reporting process and ways to display your reports through an interactive web map. Additionally, this month's newsletter includes an article on flash drought and a drought update for the Carolinas based on the U.S. Drought Monitor for last week. We also highlight Richard Figlar as our Condition Monitoring Star of the Month and share some of his reports from August.

Feel free to send us any comments or questions that you might have, or if you would like to be added to the newsletter email list.

Help document upcoming King Tides in South Carolina!

Do you live on the South Carolina Coast or are planning a trip during August 28 - September 2? If yes, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SC DHEC) needs your help to capture photos for the South Carolina King Tides initiative!

Every year, coastal areas of South Carolina experience “King Tides,” which refers to a seasonally high tide that occurs when the moon is close to the earth during its orbit. According to SC DHEC, King Tides may cause noticeable impacts such as flooding in low-lying areas and coastal erosion, especially if a heavy precipitation event occurs during the King Tide. The South Carolina King Tides Initiative helps SC DHEC document and better understand the types of impacts these extreme tides have on the state. The initiative also raises public awareness of the impacts of coastal hazards.

Based on the tide charts, the next King Tide event in South Carolina will occur from August 28^th through September 2. If you would like to participate and submit photos documenting King Tides, visit MyCoast: SouthCarolina to download the MyCoast: South Carolina app for your smartphone or tablet to upload photos. For more information, please visit SC DHEC’s information page.

Above: Example of a MyCoast submission from a King Tide event last year

Check out the August 2015 Newsletter!

The August 2015 CISA & CoCoRaHS Condition Monitoring Newsletter is hot off the press and ready for you to read! This month we feature articles about increasing dry conditions in the Carolinas, including perspectives from our observers as well as the regular update from the US Drought Monitor. We selected Karen Schuck from Georgia as our Condition Monitoring Star of the Month and showcase some of her condition monitoring reports. Additionally, we provide a recap from the July Observer Conference Call and an article on drought impacts on health , both of which we hope will provide you with some new ideas on topics to include in your reports.

Be sure to check your inbox or here for a copy of the newsletter. As always, keep up the great work and let us know if you have any questions, ideas, or concerns!

Condition Monitoring Reports Help Confirm Drought Conditions In NC

On Thursday, July 30, 2015, Rebecca Cumbie, extension climatologist with the NC State Climate Office, posted this update to the State Climate Office blog discussing the intensification of drought conditions in North Carolina. Rebecca cites observations submitted by CoCoRaHS condition monitoring observers that help support the drought designations.

This is just one more instance where condition monitoring reports have shown their value.

Keep up the great work everyone!