Summer in Horry County brings a boom of tourism, heat, humidity, and fresh local summer vegetables! When you hit the road this summer, pack your patience for moving farm equipment and the increased tourism traffic. If you are new to the county, or the south in general, the climate may be a shock. Stay hydrated, take frequent breaks in the shade or AC and don’t forget your sun protection!
Since Horry County is a humid subtropical climate, our average climate temperatures range from the 60s to 90s throughout the summer. Humidity in Horry averages 79.5% and can make the “real feel” temperature much higher than the actual temperature.
| Month | Average Low | Average High |
| June | 69-71°F | 87-92°F |
| July | 72-74°F | 90-95°F |
| August | 72-74°F | 87-92°F |
| September | 63-68°F | 84-89°F |
Data from the SC State Climatology Office.
As of July 30, 2024 all of Horry County is experiencing a drought. The coastal edge of the county is abnormally dry, a D0, and as you go inland towards Marion the conditions gradually change to a D3, extreme drought. The U.S. Drought Monitor updates weekly and you can view the map for all of South Carolina on their interactive website. The darker the color on the map, and the higher the number behind the letter “D”, the more intense the drought is for that area.
The precipitation climate normal for Horry County in the spring (March 19- June 19) is 10-11 inches and summer (June 20 – September 22) is 16-18 inches. The spring average across the county was 9.01 inches, we are starting the summer drier than normal. The combination of heat, humidity, and abnormally dry conditions can wreak havoc on our lawns, fruits, vegetables, forages, row crops, and livestock.
At this point in the summer, disease and pest pressures are at an all time high for all of our crops. Clemson Cooperative Extension has several resources available to help you manage weather and climate related production risks. Consult our County webpage to find the Agent for your specific topic of interest and reach out to them. They may ask you to send a picture, schedule a site visit or bring a sample to our office. Through our Agricultural Services Laboratory on Clemson University’s campus we can test soil, compost, tissue samples, manure or lagoon samples, irrigation water, identify insects, and test food and forage quality!
Let’s tackle some of the most frequently asked questions we get throughout the summer at the Clemson Cooperative Extension Horry County office.
What’s wrong with my _________ (insert plant of your choosing)?
It depends! To best serve you, we ask that you bring in a sample of the plant. A good sample will include both healthy and problematic tissue. If the entire plant is affected, we may request you bring the entire plant in- roots and all! Photos can sometimes be enough to diagnose an issue. Please consult the HGIC Fact Sheet on taking good photos for your Extension Agent before snapping away.
Is it too late to plant anything?
With our humid subtropical climate, our growing seasons are extended! Some crops you can stagger plantings from spring into the summer, while many of our fall crops can be planted towards the end of the summer. Please consult the HGIC Vegetable Planting Guide for recommended planting dates.
How can I get my kids involved in 4-H?
Mark your calendars!!
The new 4-H year officially begins September 1, 2024. 4-H is open to all youth, regardless of their background, ages 5-19. When the new year begins, you can register online at v2.4honline.com. 4-H membership is $15 per year and includes a 4-H t-shirt, mailed directly to your home. 4-H clubs will be listed on the Clemson website for Horry County 4-H at the following link: https://www.clemson.edu/extension/4h/county/horry.html. 4-H clubs open for registration for the new year will be announced soon. At the link, you will find the listing of clubs from the previous year. For more information, contact Miracle Rabon at llewis2@clemson.edu or at 843-333-0460. Thank you for your interest and support of Horry County 4-H!
Do you this hurricane season is going to be a bad one?
Hurricanes and tropical storms are unpredictable. They can strengthen, weaken, and change direction rather quickly. Some years are calmer or less active than others, but it’s best to be prepared for every hurricane season. Hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30.
If you have lived on the coast your whole life and you are “used” to hurricanes, it is still important to stay diligent and prepared. The evacuation zones have recently been updated. The SC Emergency Management Department has a tool where you can enter your address to see your zone. They also have planning materials and supplies list that you can use to be ready for when a storm hits.
Our farmers have an extra layer of preparation for hurricanes. Having a plan, maintaining inventory and production records, and taking photos or video before and after the storm are simple things that can make a huge difference. Contact our Agribusiness Agent, Charley at chmaxwe@clemson.edu to talk about hurricane prep for your specific operation.
Is this snake poisonous?
No. We do not have any poisonous snakes in South Carolina. Poisonous snakes are actually extremely rare and unload their toxins when you eat them.
We have venomous snakes in South Carolina. Venomous snakes inject their toxins when they bite their prey or predator when they are trying to protect themselves. The most commonly seen venomous snake in Horry is the copperhead. You may also see coral snake, cottonmouth (especially in wetlands and near swamps), pigmy rattlesnake, eastern diamondback rattlesnake and the timber rattlesnake.
Our friends over at the SC Department of Natural Resources have a great guide to identifying these snakes. Please do not bring a live or dead snake into the Extension office. We will look at a picture.
Are there really alligators in every body of water?
It is possible, and highly likely, for an alligator to be in any sizable body of freshwater in the county. The American alligator is native to South Carolina and can grow up to 16 feet in length. They are typically black and brown with light yellow-white bands across their body; a juvenile will have much brighter bands on their bodies. What do you do if you encounter an alligator? Our friends at the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources have a fantastic alligator safety Q&A available online.
Can someone test my canner?
Yes, as we get towards the end of summer harvests you may have a surplus of vegetables you would like to can or preserve another way. Please reach out to our Food Systems and Safety Agent, Chase Baillie at mcinto3@clemson.edu for more information and consult the Carolina Canning webpage for online resources.
Where can I find local vegetables?
The Waccamaw Market Cooperative runs farmers markets in several locations across the counties on various days of the week. You can find the closest one to you and their schedules at https://waccamawmarkets.org/.
There are several roadside markets throughout the county. A list of the markets certified by the SC Department of Agriculture are listed as well as their location, hours and products on the Certified Roadside Markets website.
Many farms across the state and in our county offer agritourism activities throughout the summer. The SC Agritourism Association lists the farms with agritourism activities on their website and you can subscribe to their newsletter to see specific events happening across the state each month!
For more information, or to ask questions, you can stop by the Clemson Cooperative Extension Horry County Office. We are open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM at 1949 Industrial Park Rd Conway, SC 29526. Your GPS should bring you straight to us, but if not you can give us a call at 843-365-6715.
