Drought Information Statement for Southeast TX and Southwest LA Valid November 7, 2024 Issued By: WFO Lake Charles, LA Contact Information: This product will be updated November 14, 2024 or sooner if drought conditions change significantly. Please see all currently available products at https://drought.gov/drought-information-statements. Please visit https://www.weather.gov/LCH/DroughtInformationStatement for previous statements. Please visit https://www.drought.gov/drought-status-updates/ for regional drought status updates. Severe drought has evolved across portions of SW Louisiana and SE Texas 1 U.S. Drought Monitor Link to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor Drought Intensity and Extent D4 (Exceptional Drought): None D3 (Extreme Drought): None D2 (Severe Drought): Eastern Hardin, northeast Jefferson, Orange, far southern Jasper, and far southern Newton counties in Texas. Calcasieu, northern Cameron, and most of Beauregard parishes in Louisiana. D1 (Moderate Drought): Tyler, Jasper, Newton, Hardin, and southwest Jefferson counties in Texas. Far southern Vernon, Allen, Jefferson Davis, southern and northeast Cameron, Acadia, St. Landry northern St. Martin, and far southern Evangeline parishes in Louisiana. D0: (Abnormally Dry): Far northern Jasper and far northern Newton in Texas. Central and northwest Vernon, far southern Rapides, far northeast Allen, central and northern Evangeline, southern Avoyelles, northern Vermilion, Lafayette, southeast Acadia, and central St. Martin parishes in Louisiana. Recent Change in Drought Intensity Link to the latest 1-week change map One Week Drought Monitor Class Change. The drought improved over the eastern half of the forecast area. There was also some improvement over portions of southeast Texas. No areas experienced a drought degradation this week. Most areas near the Sabine River in westernLouisiana and southeast Texas received no change in drought classification this week. 30 Day Precipitation 30 Day Precipitation Accumulation and Percent of Normal. Roughly a trace to 6 inches of rain fell across the region over the past 30 days. These amounts are roughly 0 to 75 percent of normal. Therefore, below normal rainfall fell across the region over the past 30 days. There are a few scattered areas that received near normal rainfall in south central and central Louisiana. 30 Day Rainfall Analysis Temperature Link to Southern Regional Climate Center Well above normal temperatures have occurred over the past week and past month across southeast Texas and much of Louisiana. Summary of Impacts View or Submit Impacts at Conditions Monitoring Observer Reports or the Drought Impacts Reporter Hydrologic Impacts None. Agricultural Impacts Unknown. Fire Hazard Impacts Some wildland fires have occurred over the past month, however, recent rainfall this week combined with higher humidity levels have helped decrease the frequency of wildland fires. Mitigation Actions Some burn bans have been posted, however, recent rainfall has prompted some burn bans to be lifted. Hydrologic Conditions and Impacts Streamflows are mostly running near to above normal in SW Louisiana and SE Texas. Agricultural Impacts Soil Moisture and Drought Severity Index by Ag Division Summarize conditions/impacts here Fire Hazard Impacts Link to Wildfire Potential Outlooks from the National interagency Coordination Center The risk for wildland fires is expected to be normal we continue into November and December. Seven Day Precipitation Forecast 0.10-0.50 inches of rain is forecast through the next 7 days. Chances favor unsettled weather to continue across southeast Texas and much of Louisiana. Showers and thunderstorms will occur over the upcoming weekend and bring 0.25 to 4 inches of widespread rainfall. There is a low risk for isolated flash flooding this weekend if thunderstorms repeat or train over the same areas for an extended period of time. Long-Range Outlooks Chances favor near normal temperatures and above normal precipitation. Chances heavily favor above normal temperatures through the rest of the November. Chances favor near normal to slightly below normal precipitation through the rest of November. Long-Range Outlooks Chances favor near normal temperatures and above normal precipitation. Chances heavily favor above normal temperatures through the end of January 2025. Chances favor below normal precipitation through January of 2025. Drought Outlook The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage The ongoing drought over southeast Texas and much of Louisiana is expected to persist through January of 2025. However, widespread rainfall this upcoming weekend may improve the drought in the short term. Links to the latest: Climate Prediction Center Monthly Drought Outlook Climate Prediction Center Seasonal Drought Outlook U.S. Drought Monitor droughtmonitor.unl.edu NWS Lake Charles Phone Number: (337) 477-5285 ext. 1 NWS Lake Charles Webpage: www.weather.gov/LCH Online Severe Weather Reporting: stormReport NWS Lake Charles Facebook www.facebook.com/NWSLakeCharles NWS Lake Charles Twitter twitter.com/NWSLakeCharles Next Update: November 14th, 2024 National Weather Service Lake Charles, LA Resources 14