South Carolina drought conditions expand

Seven Upstate counties are now rated moderate drought:  Greenville, Spartanburg, Cherokee, Union, York, Chester and Fairfield.  The state committee monitoring conditions made no changes in other counties classified incipient drought.  Incipient is the first level of drought, followed by moderate, severe, and extreme.  Low streamflow and impacts of the drought on feed and water for grazing animals were the primary driving factors.  The committee expressed optimism that a five-day rain forecast and December’s outlook will verify and provide beneficial rain for all of South Carolina.