South Carolina now drought free

An obvious conclusion to draw for the state’s committee of rain monitoring is that all of South Carolina is now drought-free.  Because of significant rain since mid-December, the drought response committee yesterday removed the incipient status of 16 counties and the moderate drought status of seven others.  Most stations across the state reported 7 to 14 inches since December 1, and a few reported 15 to 20 inches.  Some streams went from much-below normal levels in late November to high flows by yesterday.  Because Oconee’s Chau Ram Park is in a river corridor where winter temperatures are sometimes five to seven degrees colder, those temps cause longer freezing and thawing.  Phil Shirley of the county PRT says the result is daily water runoff and frozen park roads, bridges and trails.  Because below freezing temperatures are forecast at the park the next two weeks, park users are requested to check the park social pages daily for updates on hours of operation this winter.