Arkansas-Louisiana-Mississippi Drought Assessment and Building Early Warning Capacity Virtual Meetings
While typically water-rich, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi have experienced severe drought in the recent past—most notably in 2012, 2022–2023, and late 2025 into 2026. Severe drought conditions across these states can disrupt the agricultural sector by reducing productivity for row crops, poultry, and cattle, often leading to long-term financial consequences. These states also face critical infrastructure and environmental impacts, including impacts to forestry, disrupted waterway transportation, and increased risks of wildfires due to drier conditions. Additionally, hydrological resources, such as river levels and soil moisture, are frequently compromised, further straining regional economic and industrial stability.
This series of two virtual meetings aims to capture the experiences of drought across sectors in these three states, as well as the gaps, needs, and potential next steps for greater regional drought early warning capacity and resilience.
Meeting Goals
- Look back at recent drought events in Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi, and what’s ahead for drought in the region.
- Assess the impacts, hurdles, successes, and needs experienced across sectors during recent drought events.
- Identify potential next steps toward improved drought early warning capacity in the region.
Meeting Dates & Logistics
Part 1: Drought Assessment and Building Early Warning Capacity Meeting
Tuesday, September 29, 2026 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. CT
The virtual meeting on Tuesday, September 29, 2026 will provide an overview of recent drought conditions and breakout opportunities for those impacted by drought to share lessons learned and identify capacity building needs.
Part 2: Synthesis and Prioritization Meeting
Tuesday, October 6, 2026 from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. CT
The second meeting on October 6, 2026 will synthesize discussions and key takeaways from the September 29 meeting, and there will be breakout opportunities to identify next steps.
Agenda
Who Should Attend?
This meeting is open to everyone. We welcome participation from federal, state, and local agencies, Tribal Nations, industry, the private sector, academic partners, and others across a variety of sectors, including agriculture, forestry, navigation, water utilities, natural resource management, manufacturing, energy, and recreation/tourism.
Registration
Please use this form to register to attend the series of virtual meetings.
For more information, please contact Molly Woloszyn (molly.woloszyn@noaa.gov).
