South Carolina drought

Is Dillon County in a drought?

D2 Severe drought

Yes. All of Dillon County is in drought on the Drought Monitor map of Sep 15, 2026, the worst of it severe drought (D2). That is unchanged from a week earlier. It has been in drought since the week of Jan 6, 2026.

Map valid Sep 15, 2026, released Thursday, Sep 17, 2026. The next map is due Thursday, Sep 24, 2026. Statewide, 67.3% of South Carolina is in drought.

Dillon County forecastWeather alertsLive radar here

This week’s map

The Drought Monitor for South Carolina, valid Sep 15, 2026. County lines are drawn in; the categories are the same as the national map.

US Drought Monitor map of South Carolina for Sep 15, 2026, shaded D0 abnormally dry through D4 exceptional drought
  • D0 Abnormally dry
  • D1 Moderate drought
  • D2 Severe drought
  • D3 Extreme drought
  • D4 Exceptional drought

Open the live map with the Drought Monitor

Map courtesy of the US Drought Monitor, NDMC-UNL, with USDA and NOAA. Original at droughtmonitor.unl.edu

This week's map, by category

Percent of Dillon County in each category or worse, the Drought Monitor's own way of counting. In exactly one category this week: D0 0%, D1 0%, D2 100%, D3 0%, D4 0%; none 0%.

CategoryThis weekSep 15Last weekSep 83 months agoJun 16A year agoSep 16
D0 to D4 Abnormally dry or worse100%100%100%100%
D1 to D4 Moderate or worse100%100%100%60.7%
D2 to D4 Severe or worse100%100%100%0%
D3 to D4 Extreme or worse0%0%0%0%
D4 Exceptional drought0%0%0%0%
None0%0%0%0%

The past year

Percent of Dillon County in each category, week by week. Each color includes the worse categories drawn over it.

Percent of Dillon County in drought categories from Sep 16, 2025 to Sep 15, 2026. On the latest map, 100% is in drought (D1 or worse) and 100% is abnormally dry or worse.0%25%50%75%100%OctNovDec2026FebMarAprMayJunJulAugSep
  • D0 Abnormally dry
  • D1 Moderate drought
  • D2 Severe drought
  • D3 Extreme drought
  • D4 Exceptional drought
Every week in the chart
MapD0+D1+D2+D3+D4+
Sep 15, 2026100%100%100%0%0%
Sep 8, 2026100%100%100%0%0%
Sep 1, 2026100%100%100%0%0%
Aug 25, 2026100%100%100%0%0%
Aug 18, 2026100%100%100%0%0%
Aug 11, 2026100%100%100%0%0%
Aug 4, 2026100%100%100%0%0%
Jul 28, 2026100%100%100%0%0%
Jul 21, 2026100%100%100%0%0%
Jul 14, 2026100%100%100%0%0%
Jul 7, 2026100%100%100%0%0%
Jun 30, 2026100%100%100%0%0%
Jun 23, 2026100%100%100%0%0%
Jun 16, 2026100%100%100%0%0%
Jun 9, 2026100%100%100%0%0%
Jun 2, 2026100%100%100%0%0%
May 26, 2026100%100%100%0%0%
May 19, 2026100%100%100%8.2%0%
May 12, 2026100%100%100%8.2%0%
May 5, 2026100%100%100%8.2%0%
Apr 28, 2026100%100%100%8.2%0%
Apr 21, 2026100%100%100%0.1%0%
Apr 14, 2026100%100%100%0%0%
Apr 7, 2026100%100%100%0%0%
Mar 31, 2026100%100%100%0%0%
Mar 24, 2026100%100%100%0%0%
Mar 17, 2026100%100%59.5%0%0%
Mar 10, 2026100%100%59.5%0%0%
Mar 3, 2026100%100%59.5%0%0%
Feb 24, 2026100%100%65.3%0%0%
Feb 17, 2026100%100%5.4%0%0%
Feb 10, 2026100%100%5.4%0%0%
Feb 3, 2026100%100%5.4%0%0%
Jan 27, 2026100%100%5.4%0%0%
Jan 20, 2026100%100%5.4%0%0%
Jan 13, 2026100%100%0%0%0%
Jan 6, 2026100%46.7%0%0%0%
Dec 30, 202577.1%0%0%0%0%
Dec 23, 202555%0%0%0%0%
Dec 16, 202555%0%0%0%0%
Dec 9, 202555%0%0%0%0%
Dec 2, 2025100%0%0%0%0%
Nov 25, 2025100%0%0%0%0%
Nov 18, 2025100%0%0%0%0%
Nov 11, 2025100%0%0%0%0%
Nov 4, 2025100%0%0%0%0%
Oct 28, 2025100%0%0%0%0%
Oct 21, 2025100%0%0%0%0%
Oct 14, 2025100%0%0%0%0%
Oct 7, 2025100%88.4%0%0%0%
Sep 30, 2025100%80.9%0%0%0%
Sep 23, 2025100%92.5%0%0%0%
Sep 16, 2025100%60.7%0%0%0%

Since 2000

Every weekly map of Dillon County since January 2000.

Percent of Dillon County in drought categories from Jan 4, 2000 to Sep 15, 2026. On the latest map, 100% is in drought (D1 or worse) and 100% is abnormally dry or worse.0%25%50%75%100%200420082012201620202024
  • D0 Abnormally dry
  • D1 Moderate drought
  • D2 Severe drought
  • D3 Extreme drought
  • D4 Exceptional drought
Year by year
YearWorst categoryMost in droughtWeek ofWeeks with drought
2026D3 Extreme drought100%Jan 1337 of 37
2025D2 Severe drought100%Jan 715 of 52
2024D3 Extreme drought100%Jul 215 of 53
2023D2 Severe drought100%Nov 710 of 52
2022D2 Severe drought100%Jan 435 of 52
2021D2 Severe drought100%May 1115 of 52
2020None0%0 of 52
2019D1 Moderate drought61.3%Aug 2014 of 53
2018D1 Moderate drought70.6%Apr 37 of 52
2017D0 Abnormally dry0%0 of 52
2016D0 Abnormally dry0%0 of 52
2015D1 Moderate drought0.7%Jul 712 of 52
2014D0 Abnormally dry0%0 of 52
2013D1 Moderate drought60.5%Feb 57 of 53
2012D1 Moderate drought100%Feb 725 of 52
2011D2 Severe drought100%Jan 1151 of 52
2010D1 Moderate drought100%Sep 213 of 52
2009D2 Severe drought100%Sep 159 of 52
2008D3 Extreme drought100%Jan 124 of 53
2007D4 Exceptional drought100%May 2928 of 52
2006D1 Moderate drought54.8%Apr 184 of 52
2005D1 Moderate drought0.4%Oct 41 of 52
2004D0 Abnormally dry0%0 of 52
2003D0 Abnormally dry0%0 of 52
2002D3 Extreme drought100%Jan 141 of 53
2001D3 Extreme drought100%May 2225 of 52
2000D1 Moderate drought100%Jul 187 of 52

Drought history since 2000

Some part of Dillon County was in drought on 28% of the weekly maps since Jan 4, 2000, and exceptional drought (D4) last reached the county the week of Dec 25, 2007.

Weeks with some drought
385 of 1,394 (28%)
Worst category reached
D4 Exceptional drought, last the week of Dec 25, 2007
Most widespread
100% in drought, week of Sep 15, 2026
Longest spell
71 weeks, Jan 11, 2011 to May 15, 2012
Current spell
37 weeks, since Jan 6, 2026

Outlook

The Climate Prediction Center's drought outlooks at the center of Dillon County: whether drought is expected to develop, persist, improve or end.

Monthly outlook, Sep 2026
Drought persists
Seasonal outlook, through December 31 (issued Sep 17)
Drought remains but improves

The monthly outlook is issued on the last day of each month, the seasonal one on the third Thursday. CPC's discussion.

What drought has meant in South Carolina

The National Drought Mitigation Center's examples of impacts observed in South Carolina at each level of drought, starting with this week's worst here.

D2 Severe drought This week

  • Boating 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

D0 Abnormally dry

  • Brush fires increase
  • Row crop growth is stunted, irrigation begins early

D1 Moderate drought

  • Fire 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

D3 Extreme drought

  • Burn 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

D4 Exceptional drought

  • Daily 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

Drawn from the Drought Impact Reporter and local observers.

Burn bans and water restrictions

The Drought Monitor does not issue burn bans or water restrictions. Dillon County's officials, the state forestry or fire agency, and local water utilities set them, often once drought reaches D2 or dry fuels raise the fire danger. Check the county's emergency management office or fire marshal for a ban in force, and the alerts page for red flag warnings and fire weather watches.

This week in the Southeast

The Drought Monitor authors' narrative for the map of Sep 15, 2026, released Sep 17, 2026.

Central Virginia had moderate rainfall this past week, leading to some drought improvement. Most of the Carolinas into Georgia were warm and dry, however, resulting the regional degradation of drought conditions. Florida was generally wet and had drought improvement in small areas in the north, center, and south parts of the state. Meanwhile, Alabama continued to experience above normal temperatures and limited rainfall in the central to north, leading to large areas with drought degradation. There remain some areas of extreme drought in northern North Carolina, coastal South and North Carolina, and small areas in Florida.

Looking ahead

Over the next five days leading up to next Tuesday, above normal rainfall is forecast in south Florida as well as a large area in southern Wisconsin and Minnesota into eastern Iowa and northern Illinois. The latter area of forecasted rainfall continues to the east through central Michigan, the southern Great Lakes, Pennsylvania, New York, and much of central and southern New England. Other locations with rainfall in the forecast this week are in the Appalachian Mountains, the western Great Plains, and the Four Corners states. Unfortunately, most of Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama are forecast to receive little rainfall. Dry conditions are also forecast in California, Nevada, and Washington. Much above normal temperatures are forecast to continue this week in the central and southern U.S.

The 6- to 10-day outlook (September 22-26, 2026) favors above normal temperatures continuing over nearly all of the continental United States. Areas most likely to be above normal are again the south into the southeast, plus the far north. Hawaii is also likely to be above normal. For precipitation, the Eastern Seaboard is likely to have above normal rainfall as is the Southwest. The central U.S. into the upper Midwest is likely to have below normal rainfall. Hawaii and Alaska are both likely to have above normal rain during this period.

Written by Lindsay Johnson, National Drought Mitigation Center; David Mocko, SSAI, NASA/GSFC. The national narrative.

What this means

The five categories the Drought Monitor draws, and how the map is made.

D0 Abnormally dry
Going into or coming out of drought.
D1 Moderate drought
Some damage to crops and pastures; water shortages developing.
D2 Severe drought
Crop or pasture losses likely; water restrictions imposed.
D3 Extreme drought
Major crop and pasture losses; widespread water shortages.
D4 Exceptional drought
Exceptional and widespread losses; water emergencies.

The US Drought Monitor is drawn every week by authors at the National Drought Mitigation Center, USDA and NOAA, who weigh rainfall, soil moisture, streamflow, groundwater, vegetation health and reports from local observers. Each map shows conditions through Tuesday morning and is released on Thursday. It shows where drought is and how bad it is; it does not forecast it. CPC's outlooks do that.

Nearby

The counties bordering Dillon County, with the worst category on this week's map.

Sources

Statistics and narrative from the US Drought Monitor, courtesy of the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, with USDA and NOAA. Outlooks from the NOAA Climate Prediction Center. Impacts from NDMC's State Impacts tool.