Nearly two months of dry weather has prompted the state climatology office to issue an incipient drought declaration for each of South Carolina’s 46 counties, according to a statement released Friday by the S.C. Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

Following a winter in which above-average precipitation allowed the state to free itself from an extended drought, members of the Drought Response Committee voted electronically to upgrade all of the Palmetto State to incipient status primarily based on the dry weather’s impact on agriculture and its impact in potentially deadly summer wildfires.

“After many sites experienced the wettest winter since 1998, we were optimistic that maybe finally we would get an extended break from the drought; but beginning in April the rainfall pattern changed,” said state climatologist Hope Mizell in a prepared statement.

Incipient drought is the lowest level according to that followed by the state Drought Response Committee, increasing in severity to stages classified as “moderate,” “severe,” and “extreme.”

With the exception of isolated locales like Florence and Chester, much of South Carolina has fallen prey to a vicious dry spell in which it has seen little in the way of precipitation while suffering through sweltering temperatures that peaked close to the 100-degree mark last week.

Less than two inches of rain have fallen in the Upstate since June 1, more than two inches below normal precipitation levels for the area. Other portions of the region received less than that, however, with Santuck in Union County receiving less than an inch of rain and Greenwood getting nearly 1.4 inches last month.

According to National Weather Service meteorologist Doug Outlaw, dry conditions and above-normal temperatures are cause for concern locally, with water being taken from streams, lakes and rivers without being replenished.

“Over the past few weeks with below-average rainfall and higher evaporation rates because of hot temperatures, it is really drying out the ground quite fast,” Outlaw said. “Currently rivers, lakes and other reservoirs have a good capacity of water but a prolonged dry spell could do a lot to upset the current trend.”

Relief may be on the way this week with temperatures in the mid- to upper-80s and the opportunity for scattered afternoon and evening showers for much of the week.

“Rainfall amounts and coverage are expected to be limited, but a few cells could drop an inch of rain or more over a short period,” said S.C. DNR severe weather liaison Mark Malsick.

In the long term, particularly in the months of August and September, NWS meteorologists are forecasting aboveaverage rainfall for the Palmetto State and the Southeast as hurricane season hits its peak.

“Typically, the Upstate’s best chance for rainfall this time of year derives from tropical rainfall coming from systems formed in the Gulf (of Mexico),” Outlaw said. “We’re predicting precipitation levels to be slightly above the norm as August and September, the peak of hurricane season, roll in.”

The NWS has predicted 23 named systems for the 2010 hurricane season, which extends from June 1 to Nov. 1.