Weekly Weather Summary: 14-20 Jul 2008

Barry Keim/ State Climatologist / keim@lsu.edu

(Based on preliminary reports received from approximately
120 NWS Cooperative sites from across the state)

...Drought Hanging Over Louisiana...

The weather week opened on 14 July with a frontal boundary draped across the State. This front served to focus scattered thunderstorms, whereby wind damage was reported in St. Charles Parish. The front then moved slightly south on the 15^th, before clearing the State by the 16^th. This front helped produce most of the rain for the week. Behind this front was less humid air, which enveloped the State, though the humidity gradually increased from the 16^th through 19^th, ending with more seasonable values. Over the weekend – 19-20 July – the State experienced more typical summer conditions.

For the week, Statewide precipitation averaged 0.5 inches, which was 0.7 inches below normal. Since 1 June, the State has only received 53 percent of normal rainfall, with the west-central portion of the State being hit the hardest, with less than one-third of normal rainfall. Also note the large number of Parishes Statewide with “short” or “very short” soil moisture conditions (below). Expect the U.S. Drought Monitor to increase drought in the State. Statewide temperature averaged 83°F, which was normal.