November 2024

Significant Weather Events:

While much more common in the springtime, with the right weather pattern severe weather can still be expected in the fall months. This November started with a multi-day severe weather outbreak in the Southern Plains from November 2nd to the 4th. This severe weather outbreak was characterized by multiple hazards, including flash flooding, severe winds, hail, and a few tornadoes. In Oklahoma, reports from the Department of Emergency Management reported 228 structures which received damage. Damage assessments from the National Weather Center revealed EF-0 to EF-3 damage from tornadoes across Oklahoma.

In the early morning hours of November 18th, severe thunderstorms moved into southwestern Oklahoma resulting in eight confirmed tornadoes. Most tornadoes were confirmed EF-unknown, but the strongest was estimated to be an EF-1. In total there were 33 confirmed tornadoes in Oklahoma this November, shattering the previous record of 12 from 1958.

Temperature:

Temperatures were above normal across the Southern Region last month, with temperatures favoring near-normal in the Texas and Oklahoma Panhandles. Monthly average temperatures were their warmest in southeastern Louisiana at nearly 5 degrees above normal. Temperatures to begin the month were quite warm with weekly average temperatures as much as 20 degrees above normal in southern Mississippi. Weekly cold fronts were quite common though, bringing with them cooler and drier air from the North. Despite these cold fronts, overall temperatures remained above normal into the middle of the month. Temperatures finally started to cool by Thanksgiving as a strong cold front took effect on the Southern Region. By the end of the month the Southern Region was quite chilly as two strong cold fronts pushed through the region. This all resulted in Novembers’ average temperature for the Southern Region, ranging from 50 to 67 degrees in most places. The coldest monthly temperatures for November were found in the Great Smoky Mountains along the Tennessee-North Carolina border where temperatures were as cool as 45 degrees Fahrenheit.

Precipitation:

Precipitation totals were close to normal in most places across the Southern Region last month, with the exception of South Texas and the northwestern portion of the Southern Region. Precipitation totals were three times normal in the northwest portion of the Region, this coincided with areas of severe weather occurrences this month. Much of this rainfall occurred from November 2nd to the 4th when nearly ten inches fell in southern Oklahoma. Across the Region, precipitation and thunderstorms were driven by low-pressure systems and their associated cold and warm fronts. However, precipitation totals were far below normal in South Texas and below normal in eastern Tennessee. As meteorological winter begins, the Southern Region is anticipating more below-normal chances of precipitation in the coming months.

Drought: 

The Southern Region saw varying precipitation trends and totals across the Region, with overall warmer than normal temperatures this November. As mentioned above, rainfall totals were their greatest in the northwestern portion of the Region as well as Central Louisiana. Overall, many areas received near normal precipitation totals for the month. In much of the Region drought conditions vastly improved, apart from Far West Texas, South Texas, and eastern Tennessee. In these areas, below normal precipitation totals were observed this November, resulting in one-class and isolated two-class degradations. Widespread improvements occurred across North Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and western Tennessee. In Oklahoma, the Texas Panhandle, and Central Louisiana one, two and three class improvements were observed as a result of multiple strong storm systems bringing heavy rains. Additionally, four-class improvements occurred south of the Red River in North Texas and a few isolated areas in Northern Oklahoma. Drought improvements in Oklahoma have been vast this November. At the end of October, 68% of the state was experiencing severe to extreme drought (D2 - D4), but by the end of this month that number was down to less than 2%. Overall, everything discussed above led to drought contraction in the Southern Region this November by 31%. Drought severity also decreased across the Region in the past month. From the beginning to the end of November, severe to exceptional drought (D2 - D4) decreased by 29%.

According to the U.S. Monthly Drought Outlook for this December, drought is expected to remain yet improve in areas of Central Texas, Northeast Texas, and Arkansas. Drought is expected to persist in Far West Texas, Northern Mississippi, and eastern Tennessee. Finally, drought removal is likely in areas of South-Central Texas.