BERKELEY COUNTY, S.C. – After weeks of dry weather and growing concern, May rains have finally delivered some good news: drought conditions have eased significantly across South Carolina, including Berkeley County.
At a meeting on May 22, the South Carolina Drought Response Committee announced that five coastal counties — Berkeley, Charleston, Georgetown, Horry, and Marion — have been downgraded from a moderate drought to an incipient drought, thanks to consistent rainfall throughout the month.
This comes just weeks after The Berkeley Observer reported on the county’s worsening dry spell that had prompted the April upgrade to moderate drought conditions.
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🌧️ What does “incipient drought” mean?
An incipient drought is the least severe of the four drought classifications recognized by the state. It signals the beginning stages of a drought, where impacts are minimal but weather patterns are being monitored for potential worsening conditions. It’s essentially a warning stage — a sign that while things have improved, we’re not entirely out of the woods yet.
🚰 Rainfall Brings Relief Statewide
According to the S.C. Department of Environmental Services, recent rainfall significantly improved streamflow levels across the state. Many rivers and streams now show flow rates above the 75th percentile, which helped lift most counties in the central, western, and northeastern parts of the state out of drought conditions entirely.
However, some counties — including Bamberg, Colleton, Dorchester, and Orangeburg — still remain under the incipient drought classification due to persistent low groundwater levels.
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🔥 Wildfire Risk Down, But Caution Still Urged
The South Carolina Forestry Commission reported that spring rains and the growth of moisture-rich vegetation have helped reduce the wildfire threat statewide. Officials successfully contained the massive 2,059-acre Covington Drive Fire in Horry County on May 21, 82 days after it ignited in early March.
Even so, the Forestry Commission continues to urge residents to burn responsibly and take precautions during any outdoor fire activity.
🗓️ What’s Next?
The Drought Response Committee will reconvene on June 26 to re-evaluate conditions across the state. Until then, Berkeley County remains under the lowest level of drought alert — but with signs of continued improvement.
