08/29/2024

The Southern Region experienced another hot and dry week, causing drought to worsen throughout. Texas and Oklahoma were especially hot and dry, especially in the Panhandle Plains, where temperatures well above normal were consistent. Abilene, TX, reached a record high of 113℉ on August 22nd, breaking records dating back to 1885. With minimal rainfall, drought conditions soared across the region, and existing drought conditions amplified, even reaching a rare two-classification degradation in west-central Texas. While temperatures averaged cooler-than-normal in the eastern states, a lack of significant rainfall last week caused Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, and parts of Arkansas to degrade in drought. As a result, 82% of the Southern Region is affected by drought - an almost 20% increase since the prior week!

Looking to the future, the beginning of September is expected to bring heavy rain to central west Texas and the coasts of Texas and Louisiana. Meanwhile, major heat risk threatens parts of the southwest United States, according to the Weather Prediction Center.