Drought in Natchitoches, Louisiana

Severe (D2) drought that developed across much of Sabine and Natchitoches Parishes during mid-November as a result of a prolonged period of above normal temperatures and much below normal rainfall continued throughout the first two and a half weeks of December. However, several rounds of wetting rainfall with amounts of two to four inches fell across these drought-stricken areas during the final week of November into the first half of December, which did replenish soil moisture to some extent for a brief improvement to moderate (D1) drought. However, ag producers continued to highlight poor pasture conditions and very low to dry stock pond levels given the lack of runoff that occurred from these rains. As a result, D2 (severe) drought was reintroduced to these areas by the end of the month.