12/21/2023

Precipitation last week was concentrated in the Northwestern portion of the climate region, due to a stationary front. While the rest of the region received near normal below normal precipitation totals. This led to one-class degradation in Northern Arkansas, Tennessee, and areas of East Texas. While rainfall totals three times normal in the Panhandle region and Western Oklahoma. Both drought expansions and degradations in the past week have led to the amount of the region experiencing drought conditions relatively unchanged.

Looking into the future, as outlined by the Seasonal Drought Outlook, valid for December 21st through March 31st, drought removal is likely in the Lower Brazos Valley, Southern Louisiana, and Southern Mississippi. Drought is expected to persist in Far West Texas, Central Texas, Southern Oklahoma, Central Arkansas, and Tennessee.