This has been a very dry fall so far here in Louisiana – so much so that 40% of the state is in a drought. State Climatologist Jay Grymes says drought conditions haven’t been this bad in the state in quite a while.
(courtesy of National Drought Mitigation Center)
“You actually have to go back a little bit more than a year, to find a time when this much of the state was in drought. It was occurring in November of 2024,” Grymes said.
Grymes says in some parts of the state, relief is on the way. Parts of the northern parishes could see at least two inches of rain in the next week.
(courtesy of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)
“That won’t end the drought there, but it will certainly take a bite out of the drought and, at least, slow the degradation that they’ve been experiencing in the northern part of the state,” Grymes said.
Grymes says the southern parishes, on the other hand, may have to settle for only about a quarter of an inch of rain over the next seven days.
“South Louisiana, especially Southeast Louisiana, they’re going to miss out on those soaking rains. And so, don’t expect much improvement there,” Grymes noted.
Grymes says this could be a sign of things to come in the months ahead, as given the current weather pattern, we could be in for a dry winter this winter.
