Despite two December rain events across the Midlands, drought conditions persist.
"We need more consistent rain events to make a dent in the drought," says SkyWACH Meteorologist Justin Kier.
The last official drought status upgrade came in late November from the South Carolina Drought Response Committee.
The SCDRC upgraded the drought status for 15 counties statewide.
Plus we’re entering into prime time historically for South Carolina wild fires."
"Drought touches so many things across the state."
The National Weather Service mentioned this during November’s Winter Weather Preparedness press conference at the state’s Emergency Management Division.
Winter rainfall is important because it recharges surface water and ground water.
One of the tools used by meteorologists and climatologists, known as the U.S. Drought Monitor, lists every county in the Midlands as being in the first stage of drought.
It lists pockets of nine Midlands counties in the second stage of drought: Aiken, Fairfield, Newberry, Richland, Lexington, Lee, Kershaw, Sumter and Saluda.