Drought Information Statement for Southeastern NC and Northeastern SC
Valid September 11, 2026
Issued By: National Weather Service Wilmington, NC
Contact Information: ilm.webmaster@noaa.gov
This product will be updated September 18, 2026 or sooner if drought conditions change significantly.  

EXTREME DROUGHT CONTINUES ACROSS PORTIONS OF HORRY, MARION, AND BRUNSWICK COUNTIES.
EXCEPTIONAL (D4) DROUGHT IS NO LONGER OCCURRING IN BRUNSWICK COUNTY, NC.
MODERATE TO SEVERE DROUGHT PERSISTS OVER MOST OF THE AREA.

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

Precipitation
Locally heavy rain occurred September 7 when flash flooding occurred in the Wilmington area. Lighter rain fell on August 30 and September 6.

Two-week rainfall totals varied from 50 to 80 percent of normal except in Florence, SC where only 0.08” (4% of normal) has been measured since 8/26.

Summary of Impacts
Hydrologic Impacts 
Stage and flow on most local North Carolina rivers and along the Waccamaw and Little Pee Dee Rivers in South Carolina have returned to normal ranges.  On the Black Creek at Quinby, flow is near the lowest ever observed this late in the year.  Flow on the Lynches River at Effingham is near the 5th percentile of climatological values. Flow on the Pee Dee River at Peedee and the Black River at Kingstree is near the 10th percentile. 

Agricultural Impacts
Local media quoted an Horry County, SC farmer saying the drought “made it a very very, nearly impossible season to grow. We lost cover crops, and entire planting”
Drought throughout the spring and summer severely impacted the development and maturation of corn and soybeans. It is too late in the season for rain to improve the situation for these crops. USDA data shows only 13 percent of North Carolina’s corn was rated “good” or “excellent” and 55 percent was rated “poor” or “very poor.”
Sod and hay production has been significantly reduced by drought.

Fire Hazard Impacts
None 

Other Impacts
Mandatory water conservation measures remain in effect for water systems across Loris, SC. Voluntary water conservation has been requested across Brunswick County, NC; Whiteville, NC; and Georgetown and Florence, SC.  
Links: See/submit Condition Monitoring Observer Reports (CMOR) and view the Drought Impacts Reporter

Long-Range Outlooks
Monthly Outlooks for September indicate a slightly increased potential for below rainfall totals.  Temperature outlooks show a 40-50 percent chance of above normal temperatures through the month of September.

Drought Outlook
The latest seasonal outlook through November shows improving drought conditions are expected across much of eastern North and South Carolina.