 It's one of the most unprecedented droughts in recent memory for the eastern part of South Carolina, and Lancaster is now being tabbed for severe drought. This coming from the state's top climatologist, Manning Kimmel, with more. The counties of York and Chester may not be far behind. All 46 counties were upgraded to some level of drought after Tuesday's South Carolina Drought Response Committee conference call. Of the 10 counties listed as incipient, which is the first of the four severity levels, York makes the list.