SC officials worry about lack of rain

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina officials are worried about the lack of rain this winter.

South Carolina climatologist Hope Mizzell told The State newspaper (http://bit.ly/w1g53d) that lakes in the Upstate are relatively full because of heavy rains in the area in the last three months.

Mizzell says this has been the driest winter ever in the Charleston area and the second-driest in the Columbia area.

Mizzell says the Charleston area has received only 1.3 inches of rain since Dec. 1. The Columbia area had received less than 3 inches between Dec. 1 and Feb. 12.

State Agriculture Commissioner Hugh Weathers says the lack of rain seems to be the new normal.

Columbia had less than 40 inches of rain only seven times in the 20th century. It’s already happened three times this century.

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Information from: The State, http://www.thestate.com