Quarterly Climate Impacts 

and Outlook

Southern

March 2018

National – Significant Events for February and Winter, 2018 

Highlights for the Region

Temperatures deviated slightly from 

normal this winter (December–February) 

for most of the Southern Region. Parts 

of Mississippi, western Texas, and 

southeastern Louisiana experienced 

above-normal temperatures.

Winter precipitation varied spatially 

throughout the Southern Region. Parts of 

Texas and Oklahoma received five percent 

or less of normal precipitation. 

The main climate impact for winter in the 

Southern Region was drought. In January, 

drought was present throughout all six 

states. Also, extreme drought was present 

during all three months.

The average U.S. temperature during February was 35.4°F, 1.6°F above average. The February precipitation total was 2.84 inches, 0.71 inch above 

average, and the sixth wettest on record. The winter average U.S. temperature was 34.0°F, 1.7°F above average. The winter precipitation total was 

6.26 inches, 0.53 inch below average. Material provided in this map was compiled from NOAA’s State of the Climate Reports. For more information 

please visit: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/sotc

Regional – Climate Overview for December 2017 to February 2018

Temperature and Precipitation Anomalies

Departure from Normal (°F)

12/1/2017–2/28/2018

Overall, average temperatures throughout 

most of the Southern region were between 

4°F below to 6°F above normal for the 

period spanning from December 2017 

to February 2018. There were areas of 

2°–6°F above normal temperatures in 

western Texas, southeastern Louisiana, 

and central Mississippi. There were a few 

areas in southern and central Texas and 

eastern Arkansas that were 2°–4°F below 

normal. 

Departure from Normal (%)

12/1/2017–2/28/2018

Winter precipitation varied spatially 

throughout the Southern Region. Areas 

in western Oklahoma and northern 

Texas received 5 percent or less of 

normal precipitation. In contrast, areas of 

eastern Texas, southwestern Oklahoma, 

central and southern Arkansas, western 

Tennessee, and northwestern Mississippi 

received 150–200 percent of normal 

precipitation. 

Streamflow

February average streamflow 

compared to historical streamflow

The above figure illustrates February 

average streamflows in the Texas Gulf and 

Lower Mississippi basins as compared 

to historical streamflows. Streamflows in 

Louisiana, Tennessee, and Mississippi 

are near normal. Parts of northeast 

Texas and southern Arkansas are 

experiencing above-normal streamflow. In 

contrast, central and southern Texas are 

experiencing below-normal streamflow.

Contact: : Rudy Bartels (rbartels@srcc.lsu.edu)

Southern Regional Climate Center

Southern Region Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook| March 2018 

https://www.drought.gov/drought/resources/reports
Regional Impacts – For December 2017 through February 2018

Dry Winter

The Southern Region experienced many areas of drought over the winter months. In December 2017, drought conditions worsened 

from severe to extreme drought in north-central Arkansas and a small area in northern Texas. Conditions worsened from moderate to 

severe drought in northern Oklahoma, northern Texas, northern Louisiana, and central Mississippi. In contrast, conditions improved 

from extreme to severe and moderate drought in central Arkansas. Conditions improved from severe to moderate drought in northeast 

Texas, southeast Oklahoma, and southern Arkansas. Moderate drought improved to abnormally dry conditions in northern Mississippi 

and southeast and western Texas. Conditions improved to normal in extreme southern Mississippi and south-central Louisiana. In 

January 2018, drought conditions worsened from severe to extreme drought in western Oklahoma and northern Texas. Conditions 

worsened from moderate to severe drought in central Oklahoma and northern and central Texas. Moderate drought conditions 

expanded throughout southern and western Texas and in central and western Tennessee. Conditions improved from extreme to severe 

and moderate drought in central Arkansas. In February 2018, extreme drought conditions expanded throughout parts of western 

Oklahoma and northern Texas. Severe drought conditions remained present in central Oklahoma and northern and central Texas. 

Moderate drought conditions expanded throughout southern, central, and western Texas and central and northeastern Oklahoma. 

Southeastern Tennessee, central Mississippi, northeastern and extreme southeastern Louisiana, northern Arkansas, eastern 

Oklahoma, and western, northern, central, and southern Texas are classified as abnormally dry. In contrast, conditions improved from 

extreme to no drought in central Arkansas. 

Above: Drought maps for December (left), January (middle), February (right).

CPC – Three-Month Outlook

Temperature

According to the Climate Prediction 

Center, April to June temperatures for the 

Southern Region have a greater chance to 

be above normal in all six states, with the 

greatest chance for warmer temperatures 

in southwest Oklahoma, Texas, and along 

the Gulf.

April to June precipitation for the Southern 

Region has a greater chance to be 

below normal for Oklahoma, Texas, and 

Louisiana. The greatest chance for belownormal precipitation is throughout most of 

Texas and southwest Oklahoma.

A = Above-normal temperatures EC = Equal chances 

B = Below-normal rainfall N = Normal

Precipitation

Winter Snow 

Over the months of December and 

January, two snow and ice events occurred 

throughout the Southern Region. Some 

areas in southeast Louisiana reported 6.5 

inches of snow on December 8, 2017. 

Other areas reporting snow on December 8 

were southern Texas, southern Mississippi, 

and eastern Tennessee. Areas of all six 

states in the region also experienced snow 

or ice on January 16, 2018. 

Gulf Regional Partners

Earth Scan Laboratory at Louisiana State 

University

esl.lsu.edu

NOAA/NWS Climate Prediction Center

cpc.noaa.gov

NOAA/NOS Gulf of Mexico Coastal Services 

Center

csc.noaa.gov

NOAA Gulf of Mexico Collaboration Team

regions.noaa.gov

NOAA/NESDIS National Centers for 

Environmental Information

ncei.noaa.gov

NOAA/NWS Southern Region 

srh.noaa.gov

Southern Climate Impacts Planning 

Program

southernclimate.org

Southern Regional Climate Center

srcc.lsu.edu

Contact: Rudy Bartels (rbartels@srcc.lsu.edu)

#regionalclimateoutlooks

Southern Region Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook| March 2018 

https://www.drought.gov/drought/resources/reports