Droughts are long-term periods of dry weather.  Short term heavy rain can still occur…and stil cause localized flooding.

Officials in Anderson, who recently instituted mandatory water restrictions because of low levels at Lake Hartwell, said they need a lot of rain over an extended period to replenish the water table and the lake.

Lake Hartwell is now well below the level used to impose “extreme drought” restrictions and residents will see some major changes.

News Channel 7 has learned that Hartwell Lake is dangerouslly low and threatens water supplies in Anderson. In addition, the governor of North Carolina has declared 59 counties disaster areas due to drought-related crop damage.

Farmers in several counties in western North Carolina are eligible to be considered for federal assistance from drought-related crop damage.

The complete coverage of water supply issues all over the Upstate from News Channel 7 and wspa.com.

Other news events and occasional rain have made the drought slip off the “front-page” news-wise, but we are still in need of quite a bit of rain.

Everyone’s idea of a “nice day” is going to be different, especially when we’re in a severe drought.  These days, “bad” weather can be “good” for many people.

Rain chances don’t always actually materialize into meaningful rainfall, which hurts when we really need the rain.

    It was a most welcomed sight.

    I had been fast-walking in my neighborhood for about 45 minutes this morning and was getting ready to run for a bit when I got rained out.

Water crisis-Embargoed

Governor Mark Sanford called for South Carolinians to conserve water on their own before the state is forced to require such actions following his tour of Pickens this week.

Marshall, N.C. joins dozens of towns, districts and counties that require mandatory water restrictions.

South Carolina Agriculture Commissioner Hugh Weathers says the state might get a federal disaster declaration because of the drought.

A fire is burning Tuesday morning on Rocky Spur Mountain in northern Greenville County. The SC Forestry Commission says the fire covers 20 acres.