Louisiana
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.
- Grass fires increase
- Farmers plant fewer crops
- Fire risk increases
- Grass is not growing; ground is cracking; grazing forage is lost
- Trees are stressed
- Creeks and bayou water levels are low
- 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
- Pasture and crop loss is widespread
- Mosquito numbers decrease
- Fishing is compromised
- Grass fires increase
- Farmers plant fewer crops
- Fire risk increases
- Grass is not growing; ground is cracking; grazing forage is lost
- Trees are stressed
- Creeks and bayou water levels are low
- 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
- Pasture and crop loss is widespread
- Mosquito numbers decrease
- Fishing is compromised
- Grass fires increase
- Farmers plant fewer crops
- Fire risk increases
- Grass is not growing; ground is cracking; grazing forage is lost
- Trees are stressed
- Creeks and bayou water levels are low
- 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
- Pasture and crop loss is widespread
- Mosquito numbers decrease
- Fishing is compromised
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.
The U.S. Drought Monitor (USDM) is a national map released every Thursday, showing parts of the U.S. that are currently 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.
The Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) is an index to characterize meteorological drought on a range of timescales, ranging from 1 to 72 months. The SPI is the number of standard deviations that observed cumulative precipitation deviates from the climatological average. NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information produce the 9-month SPI values below on a monthly basis, going back to 1895. Learn more.
Tree-rings are used to extend the instrumental record of drought to over 2,000 years. The Living Blended Drought Product (LBDP) is a recalibrated data series of June-July-August Palmer Modified Drought Index (PMDI) values in the lower 48 U.S. states. This dataset blends tree-ring reconstructions and instrumental data to estimate the average summer PMDI values, which extend over 2,000 years in some parts of the U.S. Learn more.
Web Resources for Louisiana
Louisiana Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness | Drought Resources
2019 State of Louisiana Hazard Mitigation Plan
Louisiana State Climate Office
Louisiana Agriclimatic Information System
Louisiana Cooperative Extension
NDMC | Louisiana Drought Planning Resources
USDA Farm Service Agency | Louisiana
National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office | JAN – Jackson, MS
National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office | LCH – Lake Charles, LA
National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office | LIX – New Orleans/Baton Roug…
National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office | SHV – Shreveport, LA
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.