BERKELEY COUNTY, S.C. — Berkeley County remains under a severe drought, and state officials warn that continued extreme heat and a lack of widespread rainfall could push parts of South Carolina toward the state’s highest drought classification later this summer.
The South Carolina Drought Response Committee met Wednesday to review drought conditions across the state and opted to keep Berkeley County in severe drought status. While no county has yet reached the fourth and highest level — extreme drought — officials said the combination of persistent heat and months of below-average rainfall has South Carolina moving in that direction.
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Statewide, rainfall has been below normal during eight of the past 10 months. Since Jan. 1, some areas have recorded rainfall deficits exceeding 12 inches, with only October 2025 and May 2026 bringing normal to above-normal precipitation.
Recent afternoon thunderstorms have offered little relief because rainfall has been highly localized, leaving many communities, including parts of Berkeley County, much drier than others.
The ongoing drought is taking a growing toll on agriculture across South Carolina.
According to the South Carolina Department of Agriculture, scattered rainfall has helped some crops temporarily maintain current conditions, but dryland crops remain well behind normal. Irrigated farmland is also under increasing stress as farmers rely on dwindling surface water and groundwater supplies.
Hay production has also suffered, with many livestock producers reporting yields at only about 30% of normal. Some farmers have already begun using winter feed supplies months ahead of schedule because pastures have failed to recover.
Water resources are becoming increasingly strained as well.
The South Carolina Department of Environmental Services reported that streamflows and groundwater levels remain below normal to well below normal across much of the state. As of July 2, 15 public water systems had implemented mandatory water restrictions, while another 40 were asking customers to voluntarily conserve water.
State officials continue to encourage residents to reduce non-essential water use now in hopes of delaying mandatory restrictions if drought conditions continue to worsen.
The prolonged dry weather is also elevating wildfire danger across South Carolina’s Coastal Plain, including Berkeley County.
According to the South Carolina Forestry Commission, increasingly dry soils and vegetation are making fires easier to ignite and more difficult to contain. Although isolated thunderstorms have brought rain to some communities, officials said it has not been enough to reverse the overall drying trend.
The Forestry Commission is urging residents to avoid unnecessary outdoor burning, use caution with equipment that could create sparks and immediately report any wildfires by calling 911.
While Berkeley County remains in severe drought for now, state officials cautioned that the combination of continued below-normal rainfall and extreme summer heat could result in even more serious drought conditions if meaningful rainfall does not arrive in the coming weeks.
The South Carolina Drought Response Committee is scheduled to meet again on Aug. 6 to reassess drought conditions across the state.
