Drought Information Statement for Southeastern NC and Northeastern SC
Valid September 18, 2026
Issued By: National Weather Service Wilmington, NC
Contact Information: ilm.webmaster@noaa.gov
This product will be updated September 25, 2026 or sooner if drought conditions change significantly.  

THERE HAVE BEEN NO DROUGHT CATEGORY CHANGES OVER THE PAST WEEK.
EXTREME DROUGHT CONTINUES ACROSS PORTIONS OF HORRY, MARION, AND BRUNSWICK COUNTIES.
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 fell on Sep 6 and across some inland areas on Sep 11. Lighter amounts were recorded on Sep 12-13.

Two-week rainfall totals varied from 10-20 percent of normal in Lumberton and Florence to 40-60 percent of normal along the coast.

Summary of Impacts
Hydrologic Impacts 
Stage and flow on local rivers have deteriorated over the past week.  Black Creek at Quinby and the Pee Dee River at Bucksport are near the lowest on record for this time of year. The Lynches River at Effingham, Black River at Kingstree, Little Pee Dee River near Dillon, and the Lumber River at Boardman are near the 10th percentile. Locations near the 25th percentile for mid September include the Cape Fear River at Lock 1, Lumber River at Lumberton, Little Pee Dee at Galivants Ferry, and the Pee Dee River at Bennettsville and at Pee Dee.

Agricultural Impacts
Brunswick County, NC Agricultural Extension officials report “most of the dry-land crops are seeing significant losses/low yields.”
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”
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.  

Long-Range Outlooks
The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage
Monthly Outlooks for October indicate “equal chances” for below, near, or above normal rainfall totals.  
Temperature outlooks show a 40-50 percent chance of above normal temperatures through the month of October.

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