(AP) -- All of South Carolina remains in a moderate drought despite heavy rains in some areas over the past week.
South Carolina's Drought Response Committee meeting by telephone Thursday agreed to maintain the moderate status, although the outlook for the coming months is grim.
State Climatologist Hope State Climatologist Hope Mizzell said during the past week, some areas of Richland County got as much as nine inches of rain and most areas of the state saw about an inch. Little rain is expected in the next 10 days and dry weather is expected into next spring.
The committee plans to meet again in three weeks. Members said the drought status in some areas, particularly the central Savannah River Valley, could be raised to severe if there is no relief.
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