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Louisiana

Drought in your area? Report Impacts
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    • Current U.S. Drought Monitor Conditions for Louisiana
    Current Last Week Last Month

    The U.S. Drought Monitor (USDM) is updated each Thursday to show the location and intensity of drought across the country. This map shows drought conditions across Louisiana using a five-category system, from Abnormally Dry (D0) conditions to Exceptional Drought (D4). The USDM is a joint effort of the National Drought Mitigation Center, USDA, and NOAA. Learn more.

    The following state-specific drought impacts were compiled by the National Drought Mitigation Center. While these impacts are not exhaustive, they can help provide a clearer picture of drought in Louisiana. 

    D0 - Abnormally Dry
    • Grass fires increase
    86.4
    of LA
    (D0–D4)
    D1 - Moderate Drought
    • Farmers plant fewer crops
    • Fire risk increases
    67.8
    of LA
    (D1–D4)
    D2 - Severe Drought
    • Grass is not growing; ground is cracking; grazing forage is lost
    • Trees are stressed
    • Creeks and bayou water levels are low
    6.7
    of LA
    (D2–D4)
    D3 - Extreme Drought
    • Rice crop is expensive to maintain; soybean yields are reduced; rye growth is stunted
    • Saltwater intrudes into rivers; rivers are too salty for irrigation
    • Trees are drought stressed; crawfish population is low
    0.0
    of LA
    (D3–D4)
    D4 - Exceptional Drought
    • Pasture and crop loss is widespread
    • Mosquito numbers decrease
    • Fishing is compromised
    0
    of LA
    (D4)
    D0 - Abnormally Dry
    • Grass fires increase
    91.9
    of LA
    (D0–D4)
    D1 - Moderate Drought
    • Farmers plant fewer crops
    • Fire risk increases
    68.6
    of LA
    (D1–D4)
    D2 - Severe Drought
    • Grass is not growing; ground is cracking; grazing forage is lost
    • Trees are stressed
    • Creeks and bayou water levels are low
    8.2
    of LA
    (D2–D4)
    D3 - Extreme Drought
    • Rice crop is expensive to maintain; soybean yields are reduced; rye growth is stunted
    • Saltwater intrudes into rivers; rivers are too salty for irrigation
    • Trees are drought stressed; crawfish population is low
    0.0
    of LA
    (D3–D4)
    D4 - Exceptional Drought
    • Pasture and crop loss is widespread
    • Mosquito numbers decrease
    • Fishing is compromised
    0
    of LA
    (D4)
    D0 - Abnormally Dry
    • Grass fires increase
    100.0
    of LA
    (D0–D4)
    D1 - Moderate Drought
    • Farmers plant fewer crops
    • Fire risk increases
    100.0
    of LA
    (D1–D4)
    D2 - Severe Drought
    • Grass is not growing; ground is cracking; grazing forage is lost
    • Trees are stressed
    • Creeks and bayou water levels are low
    11.0
    of LA
    (D2–D4)
    D3 - Extreme Drought
    • Rice crop is expensive to maintain; soybean yields are reduced; rye growth is stunted
    • Saltwater intrudes into rivers; rivers are too salty for irrigation
    • Trees are drought stressed; crawfish population is low
    0.0
    of LA
    (D3–D4)
    D4 - Exceptional Drought
    • Pasture and crop loss is widespread
    • Mosquito numbers decrease
    • Fishing is compromised
    0
    of LA
    (D4)
    Source(s):

    NDMC, NOAA, USDA
    Source(s):

    NDMC, NOAA, USDA
    Source(s):

    NDMC, NOAA, USDA
    Updates Weekly  -  11/22/22
    Updates Weekly  -  11/25/22
    Updates Weekly  -  11/08/22
    3,590,474
    people in Louisiana are affected by drought
    60
    counties with USDA disaster designations
    -9th
    driest October was in 2022, over the past 128 years
    -9th
    driest year to date was in 2022, over the past 128 years
    Learn more about these data
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    Explore Drought Conditions by City and Parish

    Summary

    View up-to-date drought conditions down to the city and parish level, including temperature, and precipitation conditions, key drought indicators, outlooks, historical conditions, and water supply, agriculture, and public health maps.

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    Drought in Louisiana from 2000–Present

    The U.S. Drought Monitor started in 2000. Since 2000, the longest duration of drought (D1-D4) in Louisiana lasted 107 weeks beginning on April 20, 2010, and ending on May 1, 2012. The most intense period of drought occurred the week of June 21, 2011, where D4 affected 64.94% of Louisiana land.

    Explore Historical Maps
    2000 - Present (Weekly)
    1895 - Present (Monthly)
    0 - 2017 (Yearly)

    The U.S. Drought Monitor (USDM) is a national map released every Thursday, showing parts of the U.S. that are in drought. The USDM relies on drought experts to synthesize the best available data and work with local observers to interpret the information. The USDM also incorporates ground truthing and information about how drought is affecting people, via a network of more than 450 observers across the country, including state climatologists, National Weather Service staff, Extension agents, and hydrologists. Learn more.

    Time Period (Years): to
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    Learn more about these data
    Regional Drought Updates

    There are currently no Regional Drought Updates for Louisiana.

    View all Regional Drought Updates ›

    Web Resources for Louisiana

    Report Impacts

    Tell us how drought is impacting your community by submitting a condition monitoring report. Your submissions help us better understand how drought is affecting local conditions. 

    Drought in your area? Report Impacts
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