Drought Information Statement for Southeastern NC and Northeastern SC
Valid July 18, 2026
Issued By: National Weather Service Wilmington, NC
Contact Information: ilm.webmaster@noaa.gov
This product will be updated July 24, 2026 or sooner if drought conditions change significantly.  
Please see all currently available products at https://drought.gov/drought-information-statements.
Please visit https://www.weather.gov/ilm/DroughtInformationStatement for previous statements. 
Please visit https://www.drought.gov/drought-status-updates for regional drought status updates.
SEVERE TO EXCEPTIONAL DROUGHT PERSISTS OVER THE AREA


U.S. Drought Monitor
Drought intensity and Extent
D4 (Exceptional Drought): Western Brunswick County
D3 (Extreme Drought):Columbus, Horry, Georgetown, Williamsburg, southern Marion, western Pender, and eastern Brunswick counties
D2 (Severe Drought): New Hanover, Bladen, Robeson, Dillon, Marlboro, Darlington, Florence, and northern Marion counties.
D1 (Moderate Drought): eastern Pender County
D0: (Abnormally Dry): none

Precipitation
Scattered t-storms brought rain to most of the area July 13, with spottier rains falling July 5-7, 10-12, and 14. Two-week rainfall totals are near to slightly above normal in most locations.
Longer-term (6 month) rainfall deficits remain 9-11 inches along the coast.


Summary of Impacts

Hydrologic Impacts 
Gauges on the Northeast Cape Fear, Waccamaw, Lumber, and Little Pee Dee rivers remain well below normal with flow at or below the climatological 5th percentile for this time of year. 

Agricultural Impacts
A public report from Horry County, SC reveals drought has severely stressed corn and soybean crops. Hay production is also being impacted.  Broadcast media reported on an Horry County farm suffering financial stress from having “to run irrigation nonstop to keep crops alive.” Another farm in Longs, SC was reported to be utilizing irrigation for six consecutive weeks but still had suffered a significant loss of trees.

Fire Hazard Impacts
The Quarry Road fire in Brunswick County, NC has consumed 283 acres and is 75 percent contained. A Burn Ban remains active in Brunswick County.  The National Interagency Fire Center is predicting an above-normal risk for wildfire through August across eastern North and South Carolina.

Other Impacts
The Cape Fear Public Utility Authority in Wilmington, NC is requesting voluntary water conservation. Whiteville, NC has also asked for voluntary water conservation.  Local broadcast media reported on a recent fish kill in a pond in Wilmington, NC from the combined effects of drought, heat, and low oxygen levels.
Mandatory water conservation measures remain in effect for multiple water systems across Brunswick County, NC and in Loris, SC. Voluntary water conservation plans remain active in Georgetown, Florence, and Myrtle Beach, SC.
Links: See/submit Condition Monitoring Observer Reports (CMOR) and view the Drought Impacts Reporter

Agricultural Impacts
The Crop Moisture Index is well below normal across portions of the coastal plain of southeastern North Carolina and northeastern South Carolina.

Fire Hazard Impacts
There is a heightened potential for wildfire during July and August due to ongoing drought plus forecast temperature and rainfall across eastern North and South Carolina.  

Long-Range Outlooks
Monthly Outlooks for August indicate a 50-60 percent chance for above normal temperatures, and a 40-50 percent chance of below normal rainfall totals.
Drought is expected to persist across almost all of North and South Carolina.