US Drought Monitor May Be Behind the Curve in Louisiana

Jay Grymes

Louisiana State Climatologist

It looks like Louisiana may be done with tropical threats for 2024 but there is another weather concern underway across much of the state: drought.

To be clear, conditions are not as severe and the dry pattern has not lasted nearly as long as the wildfire-enhancing drought of 2023.  But given last year’s situation, farmers, foresters and ranchers are having flashbacks.

While the southeastern parishes have received enough rain over the past 1 to 3 months to meet most moisture requirements, the same cannot be said for most of the remainder of the state.  Parts of northern and northwestern Louisiana have received less than half of normal rainfall over the past 3 months.

In addition, with the lack of rainfall has been accompanied by reduced cloud cover (more sunshine) and above-normal temperatures.  That has likely generated higher-than-normal evapotranspiration rates (ET) for this time of year.

The ‘dry’ pattern might be acceptable for sugarcane farmers preparing for harvest in the coming weeks but intensifying drought conditions is becoming an increasing concern for most of the state’s agricultural sector.  

Adding to the problem, the outlook through the next 7 days or more offers little hope anywhere in the state for much-need rain.

The state’s “drought team” will be asking for expansion of drought categories across much of the state with this week’s U.S. Drought Monitor (USDM).  The team already has expressed a sense that the weekly USDM may be a little behind the curve in terms of drought conditions for some areas within the state.

Some Louisiana farmers are delaying fall/winter planting due to the unusually-dry soils.  Moisture shortages are also resulting in poor pasture quality across many parishes.   

As of Tuesday afternoon, 26 parishes have issued Burn Bans due to the excessive dryness and it appears likely that the number of additional parishes will rise by the end of the work week.