The latest drought monitor from late January indicates moderate drought conditions persist across Southeast Texas and Southwest and Central Louisiana.  In the month of January, very few systems were strong enough to produce showers and thunderstorms with any significant rainfall across the region.  Therefore, January rainfall totals were below normal.  This is on the heels of a very dry year in 2005.

The following table shows the observed rainfall amounts, departure from normal, and percentage of normal for 2005 and from January 1 2006 to January 26 2006.

In fact, 2005 was the driest year on record for Alexandria, Louisiana.  Furthermore, it was the fifth driest on record for New Iberia and Lafayette.  Meanwhile, the 2005 precipitation totals for Lake Charles and Beaumont broke into the top 20 list for driest years with both having their eighteenth driest year on record.

As of late January, New Iberia was on pace to have its driest January on record.  Meanwhile, Beaumont was on pace to have its eighth driest January and Lake Charles to have its ninth driest January.

FIRE DANGER IMPACTS

The Keetch-Byram Index shows the risks of fire danger are low with levels from less than 200 to 300.  According to local media, burn bans have been temporarily lifted in Southeast Texas.

AGRICULTURAL IMPACTS

The crop moisture index has only slightly improved.  However, many crops have already been damaged due to the lack of rainfall over the past year.  The department of agriculture has designated several Texas counties and Louisiana parishes disaster areas due to the drought.
 

Streamflows on rivers across Southeast Texas and Southwest, Central, and South Central Louisiana are also below normal.

For further information on the drought, please visit the following websites:

NOAA Drought Information Page
http://www.drought.noaa.gov

Climate Prediction Center
http://www.cpc.noaa.gov