South Louisiana’s spring is starting off bone dry. The latest drought map shows extreme conditions tightening their grip on Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes, leaving farmers, marsh managers and coastal communities staring down a serious water shortage just as planting season and the seafood hustle kick into gear.

February 2026 in Louisiana brought a mix of severe weather, warmth, and worsening drought. A Valentine’s Day tornado outbreak marked one of the most active severe weather events in years, while the rest of the month remained relatively quiet. Temperatures were warmer than normal overall, with record highs in the 80s, though several freeze events still occurred early and late in the month. Rainfall was well below average statewide, intensifying drought conditions, which expanded significantly by the end of February. Dry conditions also led to rare winter burn bans and increased wildfire risk, while frequent dense fog created additional hazards. Overall, the month contributed to a very dry, warm winter with growing impacts on agriculture and soil moisture heading into spring.

Louisiana is entering April with worsening drought conditions, as more than 80% of the state is now in drought and nearly 25% is experiencing rare “Extreme Drought.” While some rain is expected in the coming week, it will only provide limited relief. With warmer temperatures increasing moisture demand, consistent rainfall will be critical in the coming weeks to rebuild soil moisture before the intense summer heat arrives.

Farmer Jack Dailey says that the drought over the last few days has not impacted his crops yet, but if it continues much longer it could create challenges.

January 2026 in Louisiana was marked by a major late-month ice storm that severely impacted the northern half of the state, causing widespread power outages, dangerous travel conditions, and nine fatalities. Temperatures fluctuated dramatically throughout the month, ranging from highs in the 80s early on to freezing conditions and wind chills in the teens by late January. Rainfall remained below average for the eighth consecutive month, contributing to ongoing drought conditions affecting up to two-thirds of the state.

Louisiana saw its second tornado outbreak in less than a month on March 11, with eight tornadoes touching down in the Florida Parishes in just 90 minutes and six more in southwest Mississippi. Despite the fast-moving storms and numerous warnings, damage was limited and no casualties were reported. Recent rainfall has improved drought conditions slightly, but nearly three-quarters of the state remains in some level of drought, with continued dry conditions and elevated fire risks in several parishes.

As part of a suite of product improvements for the 2026 hurricane season [PDF], NOAA’s National Hurricane Center (NHC) is implementing two new tropical products and services: a new operational hurricane track cone map, and new storm surge alerts for Hawaii.

It's going to be especially cold for Tuesday's morning commute and bus ride .... not only because of the morning freeze expected for most LA communities but also the fact that up until today, March has been dominated by "warm" days for this time of year with highs in the 70°s and even some 80°s around the state.  (LA's last widespread freeze was on Feb 24th.)

There are still some timing issues regarding the forecast confidence (with the action more than 48 hours out), but confidence is increasing with regard to the upcoming Sunday/Monday frontal passage.

After a series of earthquakes in northwest Louisiana triggered by Thursday’s magnitude 4.9 in Red River Parish, the U.S. Geological Survey spent time this week installing new equipment to assist in detecting earthquakes. Among those on the team was Cynthia Ebinger with the Tulane University School of Science and Engineering, who says this is standard operating procedure.