There is general agreement among all but one of the listed forecast groups that the 2026 season will have fewer-than-average 'named' storms in the Atlantic Basin. Historically, fewer storms overall leads to a reduction in landfalls for the U.S. mainland, on average. This is especially true in terms of 'major' hurricane landfalls on the mainland.
Read MoreThis Secretarial Natural Disaster Designation allows the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) to extend much-needed emergency credit to producers recovering from natural disasters through emergency loans.
Read MoreHurricane season is once again upon us, and the LSU AgCenter has recommendations to mitigate potential danger and losses to yards, homes and animals, tips for keeping food and cleaning supplies on hand and information for farmers and ranchers.
Read MoreMuch of Louisiana is now under a Slight Risk for damaging winds Tuesday, along with a Marginal Risk for flash flooding. While severe weather chances decrease later this week, several rounds of rain could bring much-needed drought relief — along with some isolated flooding concerns in northern Louisiana through Saturday.
Read MoreBig rains are headed to Louisiana — and this looks like a long-duration event. Rain ramps up later today, and I don’t see a true dry stretch over the next 10 days.
Read MoreRainfall has been feast or famine across Louisiana, with some areas seeing major drought improvement after 5 to 10 inches of rain while nearby locations received very little. More rain is expected next week, and an unsettled pattern could bring periodic showers for the next couple of weeks, though severe weather threats currently appear limited.
Read MoreA forecast model shows storm activity from Sunday morning through Tuesday morning. The Storm Prediction Center has placed northern Louisiana under a Slight Risk for severe weather Sunday, while much of southern Louisiana is under a Marginal Risk. Strong to severe thunderstorms are possible, especially in the north, with damaging winds and large hail as the main threats. Tornadoes are not currently expected in Louisiana.
Read MoreA Secretarial disaster designation was issued for Louisiana due to drought, making farm operators in primary and contiguous parishes across Louisiana, Arkansas and Mississippi eligible for Farm Service Agency emergency loan assistance.
The drought, classified as a Fast-Track disaster, began on April 14. Farmers have until Jan. 4, 2027, to apply for these emergency loans.
Read MoreScattered strong-to-severe storms will return to the northern half of the state on Wednesday with a "SLIGHT Risk" for severe storms.
Read MoreLouisiana experienced a warm and humid week with multiple rounds of rain, driven by a stalled front and Gulf moisture, but rainfall was uneven and not enough to significantly improve drought conditions. Temperatures were well above normal statewide, especially overnight lows, which stayed unusually warm due to high humidity.
Read MoreScattered strong-to-severe storms will return to the northern half of the state on Wednesday with a "SLIGHT Risk" for severe storms.
Read MoreLouisiana saw very little rainfall this week, with most areas getting under half an inch, worsening already dry conditions. As a result, drought expanded significantly, with about 94% of the state now in drought and over half in Extreme Drought.
Read MoreThe Louisiana Drought Team, in collective partnership with the USDM national authors, the NWS, and the LDAF, has continued to downgrade conditions across the Bayou State with this week's USDM update ... as 'normal' spring rains fail to develop.
Read MoreNorthern Louisiana should prepare for occasional strong-to-severe t-storms on Friday evening ... but do note that the NWS timeline has the threat potentially arriving as early as the mid-afternoon. A severe weather Watch may be issued for the region.
Read MoreThe warning signs for U.S. agriculture in 2026 are stacking up fast. From record-setting drought coverage to historically low snowpack and new research explaining why water supplies aren’t adding up, experts say the challenges facing farmers and ranchers this year aren’t just seasonal. They’re structural, compounding, and increasingly difficult to predict.
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