03/07/2024

Last week, the Southern Region experienced overall warmer-than-normal temperatures, and a low pressure system brought heavy rainfall to two states. Drought conditions improved in areas where rain fell, while areas with rainfall deficits and abnormal dryness degraded in drought classifications.

Severe thunderstorms produced hail across Arkansas and Louisiana, which brought widespread heavy rain on Friday and Monday, which improved and ameliorated drought along parts of Mississippi and southern Louisiana. Arkansas did not nearly experience the same, causing northern portions of the state to become (D0) abnormally dry. Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana, and Tennessee also had 1 Class Degradations. Forty-three percent of the Southern Region is affected by drought, a two percent increase since last week.

Looking to the future, the National Weather Service has forecasted heavy rain for Mississippi, northern Louisiana, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and northeast Texas for tonight and into the weekend, while Tennessee may join the fun later in the weekend. West and south Texas may miss the rainfall, which may contribute to strengthen dry conditions.