Flood-like conditions near Westminster

School bus drivers have alerted Oconee County dispatch of flood-like conditions on U-S 76 near Westminster in the vicinity of Ramsay’s Creek and the Calvary Church of God.  The advice for all motorists is to be extra careful this morning. The S.C. Drought Response Committee downgraded the drought status yesterday of the coastal counties of South Carolina. Counties throughout the rest of the state remain in either incipient or moderate status, although the Committee is optimistic for more downgrades with the forecast of heavy rain around the state, such as the rain that fell though the night in Oconee County.  Oconee, Anderson, and Pickens are among the counties that remain in incipient drought. As rain fell again across South Carolina coastal counties, it was an easy decision for the Drought Committee to downgrade the drought status in all coastal counties. There was a longer discussion about the Upstate drought conditions. According to Hope Mizzell, S.C. State Climatologist, “It has been very dry for many areas across the Upstate.  However, the Committee was hesitant today to make any major changes due to the potential for heavy rain in the forecast. The rainfall expected over the next few days has the potential to be the largest and most widespread since June 1.” The Committee decided to delay upgrading or downgrading the drought status in most counties due to the pending rainfall, but will reevaluate on October 5.