Midlands drought conditions are worse now than at anytime in 2018.
The United States Drought Monitor upgraded parts of the area to severe drought in the southern Midlands and expanded the moderate drought status across the central Midlands.
This marks the first time this year any portion of the WACH Fox viewing area has been designated under severe drought.
Specifically central and southern Orangeburg County as well as the extreme southern tip of Clarendon County now fall into severe drought.
"This impacts the agricultural community, amateur gardeners, wildlife and it increases the likelihood of wild fires."
Aiken, Lexington, Richland, Calhoun, Sumter, Orangeburg and Clarendon Counties were upgraded to moderate drought.
Many of these counties have fluctuated between no drought, abnormally dry and moderate drought since 2017.
The only areas in the Midlands exempt from drought are northern portions of Newberry, Fairfield and Kershaw Counties.
The State Drought Response Committee, under the state’s Department of Natural Resources oversight, last updated the drought status in late November.
Click here for the full seven day forecast.