Drought in Greater Oconee, South Carolina

Another month of meager rainfall and unusually warm temperatures, in which most locations across the northwest Piedmont and foothills of South Carolina saw less than a half inch of precipitation resulted in exacerbation of the drought conditions that began across the area during late Spring. Total rainfall from May through October ranged only from 10-13 inches across this area, which is roughly half of the normal amount. The main agricultural impact was to pasture land, as hay production was down as much as 50%. Unirrigated soybean crops were also damaged, with production down as much as 50% in some locations. Water levels on area reservoirs and stream flows on waterways remained well below normal, and voluntary water restrictions remained in place in some communities.