COLUMBIA, S.C. — The latest drought monitor update was released this morning and while much of the state is still seeing abnormally dry or moderate drought conditions, a noticeably large part of the state is no longer seeing any type of drought conditions. This area correlates with the areas that received the highest amount of rainfall from last week's rainfall event.
Areas that received the most rainfall in the Midlands were Orangeburg and Calhoun Counties. Several parts of these counties received over a foot of rain, leading to widespread flooding issues and road closures. Previously, these areas were seeing moderate drought conditions. Parts of Calhoun, Sumter, Kershaw, Fairfield, Richland and Lexington Counties were also removed from the drought.
This comes after over a month without any measurable rainfall in the Columbia area. Below is the drought monitor from last week, before the rainfall totals last week were calculated and factored into the drought monitor.
Here is the latest drought monitor, which was updated Thursday morning.
Some of the higher rainfall totals from last week's rainfall event are:
- North: 12.45 inches
- Orangeburg: 10.95 inches
- Congaree National Park: 9.36 inches
- Hopkins: 7.01 inches
- Eastover: 5.88 inches
- Manning: 3.70 inches
- Pelion: 3.11 inches
- Columbia Metro Airport: 2.47 inches
- Saint Matthews: 1.05 inches
- Winnsboro: 0.98 inches
