01/30/2025

The Southern Region experienced a cold week with a historic winter storm along the Gulf Coast. The heaviest snowfall occurred in Southeast Louisiana, and many areas in Mississippi and along the Coast experienced temperatures up to 16 degrees below normal. As a result, one-class improvements from abnormally dry conditions occurred in parts of Mississippi and East Texas. Areas outside the storm’s impact remained dry, contributing to drought intensification in South Texas, Tennessee, and Tishomingo County, Mississippi. In Texas, (D2) Severe and (D3) Extreme drought expanded in the South Texas Plains and the Hill Country.

Looking to the future, the Southern Region’s recent abundance of rainfall may improve drought conditions. Slow moving storms have caused concerns for flooding for portions of the ArkLaTex region, and some Flood Warnings lasted until the middle of the weekend.