|
NCDC /
Clim. Monitoring /
Climate-2002 /
Jul /
U.S. Regional Drought /
Search /
Help
|
Climate of 2002 - July
South Carolina
Drought
National Climatic Data Center, 15 August 2002
|
|
July 2002 marked the twelfth consecutive month with below normal rainfall, statewide, for South Carolina, giving the state the twelfth driest July and the driest August-July in the 108-year record. The persistent dryness for much of the last four years gave the state a Palmer Hydrological Drought Index that rivals the droughts of the 1920s and 1950s in magnitude. Impacts from the drought include:
- 3,375 wildfires have scorched 29,972 acres through July 31 (according to the National Interagency Fire Center).
- 87% of the state's topsoil was rated as very dry ("short to very short") by the USDA as of July 28.
- 60% of the state's range and pasture lands were reported in poor to very poor condition by the USDA as of July 28.
As noted by the South Carolina Drought Response Committee,
- On July 24, Committee members upgraded the state's drought status from severe to extreme for 39 counties.
- The entire state has been under a "severe" drought declaration since June 19.
- "Each affected region will now seek to reduce the consumptive use of surface
water," Governor Jim Hodges said following the meeting. "To reach that goal,
each community will follow its own drought plans, based on their local
conditions. I'm asking folks who live in the areas of extreme drought to
use a little less water."
|
NCDC /
Clim. Monitoring /
Climate-2002 /
Jul /
U.S. Regional Drought /
Search /
Help
http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/research/2002/jul/st038dv00pcp200207.html
Downloaded Sunday, 07-Sep-2008 08:11:49 EDT
Last Updated Thursday, 14-Jul-2005 11:55:40 EDT by Richard.Heim@noaa.gov
Please see the NCDC Contact Page if you have questions or comments.
|
