Drought Information Statement for Southeast LA and Southwest MS 
Valid January 25, 2024
Issued By: NWS New Orleans/Baton Rouge
Contact Information: sr-lix.webmaster@noaa.gov
This product will be updated Feb 1, 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/lix/DroughtInformationStatement for previous statements. 
1

U.S. Drought Monitor
Link to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor for SE Louisiana and SW Mississippi 
No changes were made this week as the heavy rainfall that occurred will be incorporated next Thursday, Feb 1st. 

Drought intensity and extent

D4 (Exceptional Drought): A small portion remains along the SE LA Gulf parishes

D3 (Extreme Drought) to D2 (Severe Drought): These areas remain is far SE LA and a small area of SW MS.

D1 (Moderate Drought) to D0 (Abnormally Dry) South-Central LA and portions of Southern MS. 


Recent Change in Drought Intensity
Link to the latest 4-week change map for SE Louisiana and SW Mississippi
One Week Drought Monitor Class Change

Drought Worsened: No Change (Yellows) 

No Change: No Change (Gray)

Drought Improved: No Change (Greens)



  



Precipitation
The rainfall that is incorporated into the Drought Monitor goes Tuesday through Tuesday. 

So the heavy rainfall of this week will not be included until Feb 1st.

Average rainfall over the last 30 days still indicates we have several areas still below normal. 
 






Temperature

Average temperatures have ranged from the lower 40s to mid 50s. 

The cold snap during the week of the Jan 15th brought well below normal temperatures.
 
This caused the last 30 day average to be 3 to 6 degrees below normal or even colder in some areas.








Hydrologic Conditions and Impacts
Summarize conditions/impacts here


Agricultural Impacts
Summarize conditions/impacts here
Image Captions: 
Left: CPC Calculated Soil Moisture Ranking Percentile valid April 20, 2023
Right: Crop Moisture Index by Division. Weekly value for period ending April 15, 2023


The outlook for January depicts that chances for wildfires are still around average to even below normal along the MS coast given recent rainfall.

Predicted rainfall over the next few days will help keep wildfire condition to minimal.


Fire Hazard Impacts
Link to Wildfire Potential Outlooks from the National Interagency Coordination Center.

Seven Day Precipitation Forecast
The next few days will remain soggy with a few more rounds of rain expected through Saturday.

The heavier rain axis is expected to be more across far SE LA and Coastal MS where an additional 3 to 4 inches of rain could be picked up. 

Around 2 to 3 inches could fall north and west of Lake Pontchartrain. 









Rapid Onset Drought Outlook
Links to the latest Climate Prediction Center 8 to 14 day Temperature Outlook and Precipitation Outlook.
Summarize conditions and impacts here


Long-Range Outlooks
The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage
With January already halfway through, temperatures so far have been below normal. 
  
Meanwhile, rainfall is verifying the outlook given the rain that has already fallen this week.

Drought Outlook
The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage

The updated seasonal drought outlook now through April continues to show improving drought conditions.

Categories have been steadily improving over the last few weeks.





Summary of Impacts
Links: See/submit Condition Monitoring Observer Reports (CMOR) and view the Drought Impacts Reporter
Hydrologic Impacts 
Drinking water has been compromised for some communities in Plaquemines Parish due to salt water intrusion

Agricultural Impacts
Winter planting could be delayed and crops affected 

Fire Hazard Impacts
None known at this time. 

Mitigation Actions
Please refer to your municipality, water provider, and local Emergency Management for mitigation information

Other Information
Please use and encourage others to report drought impacts at CMOR (link above). Reports help improve the accuracy of the Drought Monitor. 


For Questions or comments please contact:

	julie.lesko@noaa.gov