Thursday’s update of the U.S. Drought Monitor (USDM) for Louisiana shows a modest increase in areas of D0 ('Abnormally Dry') and D1 ('Moderate Drought') between last week and the current week.
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Louisiana needs rain. We’re getting some this weekend, but not enough to fix the problem.
A cold front will cross the state starting Saturday morning, bringing the first decent rain we’ve seen in weeks.
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When Jay Grymes was named the Louisiana state climatologist for a second time in 2024, it was a different job compared to the one he held more than 20 years before.
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Once again, we are hearing rumblings about transportation along the Lower Mississippi River. Anyone south of the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers will tell you we haven’t had much rainfall in the region since the start of July.
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Hurricane Gabrielle is still a 'major' hurricane (Category 3), tracking from west-to-east across the subtropicval Atlantic. While Gabrielle is expected to weaken over the coming days, the NHC forecast has Gabrielle reaching the Azores late Thursday or Friday as a hurricane.
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Year-over-year Mississippi River levels at St. Louis and Memphis are currently measuring above last year. But, without significant rain in the forecast and concerns for the volume of water coming from the Ohio River valley into the lower Mississippi, this could elevate levels of concern, particularly in the next few weeks.
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After Hurricanes Katrina and Rita devastated Louisiana and brought billions of dollars of damage to the state, lawmakers worked with researchers, engineers and others to create and implement new codes and laws in an attempt to prevent such serious damage happening again.
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This week in WBRZ history, six different hurricanes made landfall, putting Morgan City's Shrimp and Petroleum Festival at risk each year.
One particularly devastating storm that struck Morgan City — Hurricane Andrew — made landfall on Aug. 26, 1992. This was one week before the 57th festival.
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As the clock ticks down the final days of July, thermometers will climb across much of the eastern half of the United States, creating a dangerous and long-lasting heat wave that will put millions at risk of heat stroke and other illnesses.
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Hurricane season begins June 1, but the National Weather Service face serious staffing challenges. Since the start of President Trump’s second term, nearly 1000 employees have left, leaving key offices in cities like Lake Charles, Houston, and Tampa understaffed. LSU Public Health Climatologist Barry Keim warns that this could delay critical weather alerts or spread inaccurate information.
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The month of April is known for rainfall, but 2025 has been a record-breaking year. Between April 2 and April 5 at least three months of rainfall dumped across the Delta, as reported by the National Weather Service in Little Rock, Ark. and Memphis, Tenn.
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Sugarcane harvesting season is underway across Louisiana, but farmers say unpredictable weather patterns are shaking up their plans. More than a month ago, Hurricane Francine swept across the southern part of the state; the wind and rain damaged crops.
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The Mississippi River is suffering from low waters for the third straight autumn, a crucial time of year when American farmers rely on the route to deliver their crops to the world.
Months of limited rainfall — with few chances for more during the rest of the season — have left the vital waterway so shallow that barges are starting to run aground, even after shippers started running lighter loads to prevent boats from hitting the river bottom.
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In the aftermath of the storm, the LSU AgCenter LaHouse Research and Education Center is reminding homeowners to prioritize safety and be vigilant when assessing damage and beginning cleanup. With the potential for structural damage and downed powerlines, it’s critical that residents take precautions to avoid further harm.
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Barges plying the shrinking lower Mississippi River have to reduce their draft, meaning operators will have to cut the amount of cargo their boats carry to meet the latest restrictions.
“The gauge at Memphis dropped to the low water threshold of minus 5 feet on Aug. 30,” said Scott Stiles, extension economics program associate for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. “The last two years, the U.S. Coast Guard initiated a 9-foot draft requirement when river levels fall below the low water threshold.
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