Louisiana Weekly Drought Monitor - December 18, 2025

By Jay Grymes

Louisiana State Climatologist

Authors for the U.S. Weekly Drought Monitor (USDM) agree that drought remains an issue for much of the Bayou State but removed areas of D2 Drought ('Severe Drought') as of this week.  

Admittedly, there were noted reservations about completely eliminating the D2 core centered around Natchitoches Parish.  The concerns were two-fold: (1) there are clear indicators of extreme local-scale soil-moisture deficits along with farm and ranch ponds that remain "bone dry", and (2) a "dry and warm" outlook for the remainder of December could require re-initiation of D2 in those same areas.  The authors try to avoid week-to-week "windshield wiper" on/off patterns with the USDM when and where possible; in this situation, it was deemed a borderline call. 

With a weak La Niña in effect and expected to persist into early 2026 (at least), the outlook for rainfall for the remainder of the meteorological winter (late December, January & February) across Louisiana leans near-normal to below-normal, with a modestly-enhanced potential for below-normal rainfall across the southern third of the state.  Should this prove to be the case, do not look for a rapid recovery for those areas currently in drought.