Map released: Thurs. October 31, 2024
Data valid: October 29, 2024 at 8 a.m. EDT

Intensity

  • None
  • D0 (Abnormally Dry)
  • D1 (Moderate Drought)
  • D2 (Severe Drought)
  • D3 (Extreme Drought)
  • D4 (Exceptional Drought)
  • No Data

Authors

United States and Puerto Rico Author(s):

Pacific Islands and Virgin Islands Author(s):

The Drought Monitor focuses on broad-scale conditions. Local conditions may vary. See accompanying text summary for forecast statements.

Statistics

Statistics type ?
Week Date None D0-D4 D1-D4 D2-D4 D3-D4 D4 DSCI

Estimated Population in Drought Areas:

Current Impacts


To see or report current drought impacts, please visit the Drought Impacts Toolkit, where you can find impacts from media in the Drought Impact Reporter and from citizen scientists and other volunteer observers under Condition Monitoring Observations.

Historic Impacts


No two states have the same experience during a drought. Below are examples of some of the impacts experienced in South Carolina in the past. The process for developing this example impact table is described in Noel, M., Bathke, D., Fuchs, B., Gutzmer, D., Haigh, T., Hayes, M., Poděbradská, M., Shield, C., Smith, K. and Svoboda, M., 2020. Linking drought impacts to drought severity at the state level. Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, 101(8), pp.E1312-E1321. doi: 10.1175/BAMS-D-19-0067.1. To view a more complete record, and to filter impacts by drought severity, sector and season, check out the interactive State Impacts Tool.

CategoryExamples of historically observed impacts
D0Brush fires increase
Row crop growth is stunted, irrigation begins early
D1Fire risk increases; tree pests increase
Peach size is reduced; non-irrigated corn shows severe stress
Voluntary conservation of water and energy is requested
Water use is high; creeks, streams, and lakes are low
D2Boating recreation is compromised
Cattle are lighter, producers are selling calves early and feeding cattle earlier
Fisheries are impacted; duck hunting areas close
Number of fires increases, and fires are more intense
River and lake levels are low; saltwater intrusion occurs; hydroelectric power production is reduced
D3Burn bans begin
Hay is scarce and expense; owners are giving away horses
Mandatory water restrictions are implemented, violators are fined; lake outflow is low
Small aquatic species are stressed
Soil moisture is low, winter crops are slow to germinate
D4Daily life is compromised
Producers are hauling water for cattle; auctions see record number of cattle
Trees are stressed; fish are dying
Wells are contaminated or running dry; lakes are extremely low with hazards exposed

How is drought affecting you?

Use the Condition Monitoring Observer Report (CMOR) system to let us know how dry, wet or normal conditions are affecting you, and see what others are saying.

Submit report