South Carolina, 2019

Wildfire and Drought in South Carolina, May 25 to 31, 2019

May 25 to 31, 2019 · NWS CHS · 3 events in 3 counties and zones

Rainfall across southeast South Carolina was well below normal January-May 2019, with rainfall totals in most areas around 40 to 50 percent of normal. 71 inches of rain through the end of May, the driest January-May period on record.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 2 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
3

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS CHS wrote it up.

Rainfall across southeast South Carolina was well below normal January-May 2019, with rainfall totals in most areas around 40 to 50 percent of normal. The Charleston International Airport (KCHS) measured just 7.71 inches of rain through the end of May, the driest January-May period on record. Similarly, Downtown Charleston (KCXM) measured only 5.10 inches of rain which ranked as the 2nd driest January-May period on record.

To make matters worse, a record setting heat wave occurred starting on May 25th. Daily record high temperatures were either tied or broken each day at KCHS from May 25-30. Also, the first 100 degree day in May on record occurred on May 26th and high temperatures reached or exceeded 100 degrees for 4 consecutive days (May 26-29), which ranks as tied for the second longest 100 degree streak on record for any time of year. Coincident with this heat wave was a period of low humidity. Relatively humidity values routinely dropped to less than 30 percent, causing rapid drying of soils and plants.

The effect of this period of little or no rainfall and record setting temperatures was a rapidly developing drought. The June 4th issuance of the US Drought Monitor (which highlights conditions during the last week of May) showed a large introduction of Severe Drought (D2) across nearly all of southeast South Carolina. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Crop Progress and Condition reports showed significant impacts from the drought to area farms. Fortunately the first half of June was very wet, alleviating the drought and its impacts.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Charleston, SC wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at May 24, 5:40 PM EST, 14 hours 20 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 24, 5:40 PM EST, 14 hours 20 minutes before
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Hazardous weather outlook, May 24, 2:59 PM EST, 17 hours 1 minute before
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The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

2 drought, 1 wildfire. Local standard time, as filed.

Drought, Allendale

When
May 25, 8:00 AM EST to May 31, 11:59 PM EST
Where
Allendale forecast zone
Reported by
Other Federal Agency
Coordinates
32.988, -81.358 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Crop Progress and Condition reports show significant impacts from the drought on farms in Allendale County. Many dryland corn fields were reported to be beyond recovery. Concerns were also raised about poor polination occurring due to the high heat in irrigated fields. Crops that were not in the reproductive phase were struggling and growing very slowly.

Drought, Hampton

When
May 25, 8:00 AM EST to May 31, 11:59 PM EST
Where
Hampton forecast zone
Reported by
Other Federal Agency
Coordinates
32.776, -81.141 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Crop Progress and Condition reports show significant impacts from the drought on farms in Hampton County. Many dryland corn fields were reported to be beyond recovery. Concerns were also raised about poor polination occurring due to the high heat in irrigated fields. Crops that were not in the reproductive phase were struggling and growing very slowly.

Wildfire, Charleston

When
May 26, 8:00 PM EST to May 31, 8:00 PM EST
Where
Charleston forecast zone
Reported by
Broadcast Media

Local media outlets reported that a controlled burn sparked a wildfire in the Francis Marion National Forest. The controlled burn jumped from its intended location due to a shift in winds and a wildfire developed in a very dry portion of the forest. All total, approximately 1,600 acres of land were burned either directly from the wildfire or from suppression activities. The Francis Marion National Forest was very dry due to a lack of rain and record setting temperatures and very dry air created an environment supportive of the development and spread of wildfires.

What these are

Drought
A drought reaching severe (D2) or worse on the US Drought Monitor, or with notable impacts.
Wildfire
A fire burning in wildland vegetation, with its acreage and damage where known.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in South Carolina in 2019Every state in 2019This day in weather historyWarnings in South Carolina, May 2019

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 824336, 824337, 824339.