3.13” rain this past week has put us back to Moderately Dry. US Drought Monitor showing us now in a “D1-Moderate Drought” status. SC Forestry app shows 9 wildfires, all in the S and E sectors of the state. While this past week’s rain certainly helps, we’re still at an overall deficit. Local roadside swamps and ditches have almost dried up again, even after this week’s abundant rains. Smaller bushes, and some lower limbs on larger trees, appear to have already turned brown and died along local roads (see photo). Local cornfields have patches of dead corn among the green. At Poinsett State Park (and at home in Sumter) mosquitos are swarming after the rain, even with bug spray and the Thermacell running. Poinsett’s main spillway already has dry spots again and the park’s waterfall is back to reduced flow, even after all the rain this week (see photos). From Data Explorer: August precip: +2.80" : 311% of NOAA Normal. Yearly precip: -9.83" : 66% of NOAA Normal. Last 30 days: 5.81”/NOAA normal: 10.39”. Last 90 days: 12.35”/NOAA normal: 18.70”.