11/03/2024 - 11/09/2024

Climate in the News:

NOAAs Climate Prediction Center has forecasted La Niña conditions for this winter. During the last La Niña winter, the Southern Region experienced the infamous winter storm Uri, which resulted in below freezing temperatures and frozen precipitation for much of the Region. Typically, La Niña winters are characterized by warmer and dryer conditions for the Southeast United States. Additionally, to drive home how uncommon that storm was, the map below shows that the Southern Region can expect below normal to normal snowfall totals during La Niña winters. 

Weather Synopsis:

On Friday, Texas and Oklahoma saw some showers and thunderstorms as a result of a low-pressure system located over the Texas Panhandle. Associated with this system was a cold front which moved eastward into Louisiana by Saturday. 

Temperature: 

Overall, November is when most of the region starts to see temperatures cooling down. Weekly cold fronts are quite common, bringing with them colder air masses from the North.

Last week temperatures were cool in the Northwest portion of the Region and quickly warmedr to the Southeast. In the eastern portion of the Region temperatures were above normal. Specifically, weekly average temperatures in Southern Mississippi were as much as 20 degrees above normal! This led to weekly average temperatures near 80 degrees Fahrenheit in Southern Louisiana and Mississippi. 

Precipitation:

The climate for the majority of the Region is humid and subtropical, with rainfall common at any point of the year. Frequently, during the fall months, cold fronts bring showers and thunderstorms. The boundary between the cold and warm air masses serves as a trigger mechanism for storms.

Much of the Southern Region saw significant rainfall last week, apart from Far West Texas, South Texas, and Eastern Tennessee. Two cold fronts swept through the Region which aided in the development of showers and thunderstorms. Many areas in Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Arkansas saw weekly precipitation totals three times normal! The largest weekly accumulations were observed in Central Louisiana where 12 inches of rain fell, even up to 15 inches in isolated areas. Overall, though, much of the Region saw a much-needed one inch of precipitation.