October 28, 2008

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- The South Carolina Drought Response Committee is again assessing how the state is dealing with the dry weather.

The committee meets Tuesday near Columbia amid some indications the drought is lessening.

Nine counties in the Upstate remain in an extreme drought.

But when the committee met last month, 10 counties were downgraded or maintained at a severe drought. Three counties are considered to be in a moderate drought and 13 were downgraded to incipient status.

Nine counties are no longer under a drought designation.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)