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LOSC

@LaStateClimate

The Louisiana Office of State Climatology strives to improve the public's understanding of climate through services, research, and education.

 LSU
losc.lsu.edu
Joined April 2014
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Photo by LOSC (@LaStateClimate)Photo by LOSC (@LaStateClimate)Photo by LOSC (@LaStateClimate)Photo by LOSC (@LaStateClimate)Photo by LOSC (@LaStateClimate)Photo by LOSC (@LaStateClimate)Photo by LOSC (@LaStateClimate)Photo by LOSC (@LaStateClimate)Photo by LOSC (@LaStateClimate)Photo by LOSC (@LaStateClimate)
Just a locally crazy, unforeseen random event last night in Pearl River County in Mississippi. The forecast was for widely-scattered thunderstorms with a "marginal" flood risk. A tiny area got stuck beneath a downpour for HOURS, with up to 17 INCHES falling!
Image from Matthew Cappucci (@MatthewCappucci)
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September 21, 2005: Hurricane Rita peaked as an extremely intense Category 5. The storm's 895 millibar minimum central pressure and 180 mph winds made it the strongest Gulf of Mexico hurricane on record until being tied on both statistics by 2024's Hurricane Milton. #wxhistory
Image from Weather History (@weather_history)
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With less than 5% of the Southern Region remaining free from drought and dry conditions this week, much of the region continues to experience worsening drought conditions. For local drought information, select your location on the map: droughtmonitor.unl.edu/Curre…
Image from Southern Regional Climate Center (@srclimatecenter)
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Will need to keep an eye on this cluster of storms to see if it holds together as it moves southwest. Impacts to the Southern & LSU campuses possible if it does.
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This week, 69% of the Southern Region is experiencing drought conditions (D1–D4), with only roughly 10% of the region experiencing non-drought and non-abnormally dry conditions. For local drought information, select your location on the map: droughtmonitor.unl.edu/Curre…
Image from Southern Regional Climate Center (@srclimatecenter)
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August 29, 2021: Exactly 16 years after Hurricane Katrina, Louisiana was slammed by Hurricane Ida. The high-end Category 4 storm devastated coastal communities and produced considerable damage in New Orleans. Thirty-four people were killed in the Gulf states. #wxhistory
Image from Weather History (@weather_history)
Image from Weather History (@weather_history)
Image from Weather History (@weather_history)
Image from Weather History (@weather_history)
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Flash drought alert for the Southern Plains and Lower Miss Basin, including parts of KS, OK, TX, MO, AR, LA, MS, and a bit of TN @NOAA's @NWSCPC 2-4 week hazards outlook shows Rapid Onset Drought Risk due extreme heat + normal to below normal precip. drought.gov/forecasts
Map showing the 2–4 Week Rapid Onset Drought Hazard Outlook across the south-central United States, valid August 11, 2026. A shaded region highlights areas at risk for rapid onset drought extending across parts of Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and a bit of Tennessee.

ALT Map showing the 2–4 Week Rapid Onset Drought Hazard Outlook across the south-central United States, valid August 11, 2026. A shaded region highlights areas at risk for rapid onset drought extending across parts of Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and a bit of Tennessee.

Hazard outlook map showing areas at risk for hazardous heat across the South Central and southeastern United States from August 15–19, 2026, including parts of Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, and Florida.

ALT Hazard outlook map showing areas at risk for hazardous heat across the South Central and southeastern United States from August 15–19, 2026, including parts of Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, and Florida.

Map showing the 8–14 Day Precipitation Outlook across the southeastern United States for August 20–26, 2026, indicating a 33% to 40% probability of below-normal precipitation along the Gulf Coast and Southeast.

ALT Map showing the 8–14 Day Precipitation Outlook across the southeastern United States for August 20–26, 2026, indicating a 33% to 40% probability of below-normal precipitation along the Gulf Coast and Southeast.

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Drought conditions continue to expand and intensify across the Southern Region this week. For local drought information, select your location on the map: droughtmonitor.unl.edu/Curre…
Image from Southern Regional Climate Center (@srclimatecenter)
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2016 FLOOD - 3 DAYS OF RADAR On this 10th anniversary of the historic flooding in south Louisiana, here's a 3-day loop capturing most of the rain. Look at the incredible number of Flash Flood Emergencies that were issued. If memory serves me right, this was the first time that @NWSNewOrleans used the Flash Flood Emergency product. 2016 Flood by the numbers: 🔵 13 fatalities 🔵 Nearly 150,000 homes damaged 🔵 ~$10-$15 billion in damages 🔵 31.39" - peak rain total recorded in Watson 🔵 46.2 feet - record shattering crest for the Amite River at Denham Springs (beat 1983 by nearly 5 feet)
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⚠️ HEAT DANGER The Louisiana Dept. of Health updated heat-related illness numbers yesterday. The state has now seen 7 heat-related deaths and nearly 2,500 ER visits relating to heat illness. The peak day for ER visits was just last week. East Baton Rouge Parish is 5th in the state for # of ER visits behind Jefferson, Orleans, St. Tammany, and Caddo. #lawx #heatexhaustion #heatstroke #heat @WAFB
Image from Steve Caparotta, Ph.D. (@SteveWAFB)
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"IT'S CALLED SUMMER, STEVE." I see comments like that almost every time I post about the heat. And you're right...it is summer. But that's also exactly why we talk about it. Heat is historically the #1 weather-related killer in the United States. Not tornadoes. Not hurricanes. Not floods. Heat. Take a look at the Louisiana Department of Health numbers below through July 18: 4 heat-related deaths 2,076 ER visits 66 ER visits on June 30 alone For some perspective, many people have changed what they're eating after the recent headlines about cyclosporiasis ("explosive diarrhea"). That's understandable. But Louisiana had 66 confirmed cases of cyclosporiasis through July 21 -- about the same number of heat-related ER visits the state saw in a SINGLE DAY on June 30. The point isn't that one risk matters more than another. It's that we tend to take action when we understand a threat. Heat deserves that same respect. Yes, Louisiana summers are hot. They've always been hot. But every year, people -- especially those who work outdoors, exercise outside, or don't have reliable access to air conditioning -- become seriously ill because of the heat. That's why I'll continue talking about it. Stay hydrated. Take frequent breaks. Check on vulnerable friends and neighbors. And never underestimate what prolonged heat can do.
Image from Steve Caparotta, Ph.D. (@SteveWAFB)
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LOOK UP! Most of us should have a nice opportunity to see the International Space Station passing overhead tonight. It starts low on the NW horizon around 8:52 PM, but will pass overhead before disappearing on the SE horizon. #iss #spacestation
Image from Steve Caparotta, Ph.D. (@SteveWAFB)
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"I'm just a regular guy who likes to track the weather." That's how CoCoRaHS volunteer Matt Carnicle describes himself. Then he measured 29.06 inches of rain in less than 12 hours, breaking Louisiana's rainfall record. More: go.nasa.gov/44HAiHx
Image from NASA Science (@NASAScience_)
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Remember this? I meant to post yesterday, but Tropical Storm Allison was moving across southeast Louisiana 25 years ago -- June 11, 2001. Days of persistent heavy rain produced significant flooding, including on area rivers. Rain totals of 15"-20" were common, with nearly 30" reported in Thibodaux!
Image from Steve Caparotta, Ph.D. (@SteveWAFB)
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Happy anniversary, Coastal Meteorology program! "It’s been a terrific first year, with enrollments exceeding expectations, new faculty, and lots of energy, interest, and support. We look forward to even better years ahead," says Program Director Robert Rohli.
Image from LSU College of the Coast & Environment (@LSU_CCE)
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Spotlight on the Lower Miss River Basin (AR, MS, LA), which is 97.9% in drought, with 54% in Extreme (D3)/Exceptional (D4) drought. Streamflows are low. Soils are dry. Some precip is expected in the next week but 6-month deficits are over 12". drought.gov @NOAA
The April 21 U.S. Drought Monitor highlights the Lower Mississippi River Basin states, including Arkansas, Mississippi, and Louisiana. One-hundred percent of the region is in drought or Abnormally Dry (D0).

ALT The April 21 U.S. Drought Monitor highlights the Lower Mississippi River Basin states, including Arkansas, Mississippi, and Louisiana. One-hundred percent of the region is in drought or Abnormally Dry (D0).

1-Day Average Streamflow Conditions by the USGS shows much below normal streamflows for Arkansas, Mississippi, and Louisiana.

ALT 1-Day Average Streamflow Conditions by the USGS shows much below normal streamflows for Arkansas, Mississippi, and Louisiana.

0–100 cm Soil Moisture Percentile by NASA shows very low moisture for Arkansas, Mississippi, and Louisiana.

ALT 0–100 cm Soil Moisture Percentile by NASA shows very low moisture for Arkansas, Mississippi, and Louisiana.

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Spotlight on the Lower Miss River Basin (AR, MS, LA), which is 82.8% in drought. Most of the region has precip deficits over 8” in the last 6 months, w/ large areas of AR/LA over 12”. The Exceptional Drought (D4) in AR has a deficit over 16”. drought.gov @NOAA
The March 24 U.S. Drought Monitor highlights the Lower Mississippi River Basin states, with large areas of drought in Arkansas, Mississippi, and Louisiana.

ALT The March 24 U.S. Drought Monitor highlights the Lower Mississippi River Basin states, with large areas of drought in Arkansas, Mississippi, and Louisiana.

The 6-Month Departure of Normal Precipitation highlights Arkansas, Mississippi, and Louisiana, where most of the three states have precipitation deficits over 8’.

ALT The 6-Month Departure of Normal Precipitation highlights Arkansas, Mississippi, and Louisiana, where most of the three states have precipitation deficits over 8’.

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This #TimelapseTuesday, we're reviewing this captivating imagery of a pair of low pressure systems beautifully swirling over the Gulf of Alaska. This extended GeoColor imagery loop, captured by @NOAA's #GOESWest (#GOES18) satellite, spans from March 21–23 and covers roughly 53 hours in 11 seconds.
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The frozen stuff falling from the sky locally this morning is known as graupel. Graupel occurs when supercooled water droplets (water existing below freezing) freeze onto falling snow crystals. It looks as though some very cold air aloft has moved in quickly this morning behind last night's cold front, allowing for the formation of graupel.
Image from Steve Caparotta, Ph.D. (@SteveWAFB)
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Warm temperatures, limited rainfall, a round of severe weather, and expanding drought defined February across the Southern Region. Read the full SRCC Monthly Climate Summary covering the past month here!➡️ srcc.tamu.edu/climate_report… #txwx #okwx #arwx #lawx #mswx #tnwx
Image from Southern Regional Climate Center (@srclimatecenter)
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