COLUMBIA (WACH, AP) -- Ask just about anyone around the Midlands if they want to see rain, and the answer is usually a resounding 'yes!' Thunderstorms and rain showers will continue to soak the Midlands Tuesday. The problem is that some areas may see too much rain, in the form of flash flooding.
South Carolina is in a statewide drought. Most of the Midlands falls under the second, moderate, stage of drought while parts of the Grand Strand are exceptionally dry. Marion and Horry County were upgraded at the last Drought Response Committee meeting to severe. Only Newberry, Saluda and Fairfield are in the lowest stage of drought for the Midlands.
The dry ground quickly absorbs rain, but it can also become too saturate too quickly. Hence the flash flooding that comes when a thunderstorm dumps inches of rain in a short period of time. Many residents know the trouble spots around the Midlands. The Five Points and downtown Columbia areas can have big problems when heavy storms arrive.
Tuesday's storms may dump more than half an inch of rain on various locations. Stronger storms can dump over an inch of rain per hour.
At the Columbia Metropolitan Airport weather station, rainfall totals are more than 5.91 inches below where they should be on the year.
Monday night saw heavy rains soak some neighborhoods across the area, and cause brief, localized flooding. Even Tuesday afternoon showers slowed traffic on 126. It's an important time to remember the phrase, 'turn around, don't drown.'
All of the moisture has prompted state fire officials to lift a burning ban near the coast and a red flag fire alert elsewhere across the state.
The South Carolina Forestry Commission say the rain has lessened the fire danger and given workers and equipment time to rest.
Authorities say the rain hasn't been enough to eliminate the fire danger. Officials say it won't take long for trees and grasses to dry once the summer sun returns.
Beyond Tuesday, rain is possible, but unlikely in many locations. Triple digit heat index values will return and slowly dry out the Midlands once again.
The SkyWACH Weather Team will continue to track storms via Facebook, Twitter and right here.
(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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