7/27/2023

With a lack of widespread precipitation last week, drought conditions were only able to improve in some concentrated areas in the northern portion of the climate region. Unfortunately, Texas and Louisiana saw below-average precipitation and above-average temperatures. Due to these conditions, far west, south, and east-central Texas experienced one-class degradations, as well as southern Louisiana and Mississippi. However, more seasonable amounts of rainfall and anomalously cool temperatures in Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Tennessee allowed for some one-class improvements in areas across those states.

Looking into the future, as outlined by the 8-14 Probabilistic Hazards Outlook, large portions of Texas and central Louisiana are at "rapid onset drought risk," as the majority of the region faces some level of risk for excessive heat in the upcoming days as the “heat dome” shifts eastward into the heart of the climate region.