FEBRUARY 2002 Newsletter

Transcription

1 LOUISIANA OFFICE OF STATE CLIMATOLOGY NON-PROFIT ORG. Dept. of Geography & Anthropology U.S. Postage PAID Louisiana State University Permit No. 733 Baton Rouge, LA Baton Rouge, LA FEBRUARY 2002 Newsletter THE LOUISIANA MONTHLY CLIMATE REVIEW is published by the LOSC through funding by Louisiana State University and in full cooperation with the National Weather Service (NWS), the National Climatic Data Center (NCDC), the Southern Regional Climate Center (SRCC), and the LSU Agricultural Center. The LOSC is solely responsible for the information provided herein. This publication is provided free of charge to all interested individuals and agencies. For further information, please contact the LOSC [(225) ]. LOUISIANA OFFICE OF STATE CLIMATOLOGY: Mr. John M. ( Jay ) Grymes III... State Climatologist Dr. Robert A. Muller... SRCC Director (Ret.) Mr. Malcolm B. Moreau... LA Cooperative Program Mgr. (Ret.) Ms. Elizabeth Mons... Research Associate Ms. Lynne Boudreaux... Undergraduate Assistant Ms. Michelle Russo... Undergraduate Assistant Ms. Shannon Tharp... Undergraduate Assistant Ms. Somer Martin... Undergraduate Assistant LSU AGRICULTURAL CENTER: Mr. James Finney... Agriclimate Associate NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE: Mr. Gil Barton... NWS/Slidell (LA) Mr. Marion Kuykendall... NWS/Shreveport (LA) Mr. Richard Gravitt... NWS/Lake Charles (LA) Mr. Marty Pope... NWS/Jackson (MS) Rivers/Bayous/Reservoirs "in Flood" during February: Louisiana Waterways Flood Date(s) Bayou Dorcheat Feb 7-14, 20-?? Glenmora Feb 7-14, 23-?? Bogalusa Feb 1-14, Morgan City Feb 8-22 A number of indices -- such as weekly PDSIs and CMIs -- suggest that all of Louisiana continues to be "near normal" to "wet" as compared to typical moisture conditions for this time of year. However, a review of the recent four-month (Nov 01 thru Feb 02) rainfall (figure above) for south Louisiana climate divisions shows that the regions are running well-below average. Rainfall for the EC and SE divisions for this period has totaled only 60% to 65% of normal, with precipitation for the SC Division only 50% of average for this period. Four-month totals for the EC, SC and SE divisions are all among the 10 lowest totals in more than 100 years, with the 9.8" cumulative four-month total for the SC Division ranking as the second lowest Nov-Feb total of record, and the lowest since 1907!

2 LOUISIANA MONTHLY CLIMATE REVIEW FEBRUARY 2002 PRELIMINARY CLIMATE DATA PRECIPITATION AROUND THE STATE Monthly MAX Rain Cumulative STATION TOTAL DEPT 1-Day Days TOTAL DEPT Monthly MAX Rain Cumulative STATION TOTAL DEPT 1-Day Days TOTAL DEPT NORTHWEST DIVISION: BENTON BOSSIER CITY COTTON VALLEY 5 NNW COUSHATTA 3 NE GREENWOOD F/TWR HANNA 3 S HOSSTON KEITHVILLE KORAN LOGANSPORT MANSFIELD MARTIN F/TWR MINDEN MOORINGSPORT 1 N RED RIVER RES STA ROBSON SHREVEPORT CARGILL PK SHREVEPORT DOWNTOWN SHREVEPORT DTN AP SHREVEPORT SHV AP SPRINGHILL M VIVIAN NORTH CENTRAL DIVISION: ARCADIA BIENVILLE 3 NE CALHOUN RES STA COLUMBIA LOCKS FARMERVILLE HAYNESVILLE HOMER 3 SSW JAMESTOWN JONESBORO 4 ENE MONROE MLU AP MONROE-ULM RUSTON-LA TECH SAILES F/TWR 1.50M M STERLINGTON STERLINGTON # WEST MONROE WINNFIELD 2 W WINONA F/TWR NORTHEAST DIVISION: BASTROP LAKE PROVIDENCE OAK GROVE 2 WSW OAK RIDGE RAYVILLE M ST JOSEPH 3 N SONDHEIMER M M TALLULAH TALLULAH TVR AP WINNSBORO 2 S M WINNSBORO 5 SSE WEST CENTRAL DIVISION: ASHLAND GORUM F/TWR GRAND ECORE HODGES GARDENS 3.79M M LEESVILLE LEESVILLE 6 SSW MANY 3.82M M MANY 9 WSW NATCHITOCHES ROSEPINE RES STA ZWOLLE 2 NW CENTRAL DIVISION: ALEXANDRIA ALEXANDRIA 5 SSE ALEXANDRIA ESF AP ALEXANDRIA AEX AP 1.23M M BEAVER F/TWR BOYCE 3 WNW BOYCE 7 SW BRUSLY 2 W BUNKIE CLAYTON 3.85M M COLFAX ELMER 2 SW EUNICE GRAND COTEAU JENA 4 WSW JONESVILLE LOCKS LARTO LAKE LSU-DEAN LEE RES STA MARKSVILLE NEW ROADS 5 ESE M OLLA OPELOUSAS PORT ALLEN RED RIVER LOCK # RED RIVER LOCK # VIDALIA # VILLE PLATTE EAST CENTRAL DIVISION: ABITA SPRINGS 1 SW ABITA SPRINGS F/TWR AMITE ANGIE BAKER BATON ROUGE BURDEN BATON ROUGE CENTRAL BATON ROUGE CONCORD BATON ROUGE BTR AP BATON ROUGE LSU BATON ROUGE SHERWOOD BATON ROUGE CCLA BATON ROUGE RIVERBEND EAST CENTRAL DIVISION: (continued) BOGALUSA CLINTON 5 SE COVINGTON 4 NNW COVINGTON 4 NE DENHAM SPRINGS FOLSOM 6 S FRANKLINTON # M FRANKLINTON 5 SW GREENWELL SPRINGS HAMMOND 5 E HAMMOND JACKSON 3 E KENTWOOD M KILLIAN LIVERPOOL 4 ESE LIVINGSTON LSU-BEN HUR FARM MOUNT HERMON 2 W M NORWOOD OAKNOLIA PINE GROVE F/TWR M PONCHATOULA 4 SE ST FRANCISVILLE SLIDELL SLIDELL LIX WFO SUN TALISHEEK TICKFAW 3 E WATSON 3 ESE ZACHARY SOUTHWEST DIVISION: ABBEVILLE BELL CITY 13 SW M CROWLEY 2 NE DE QUINCY DE RIDDER DRY CREEK 5 NW ELIZABETH HACKBERRY 8 SSW JENNINGS KAPLAN LAKE ARTHUR 10 SW LAKE CHARLES 7 NW LAKE CHARLES 2 N LAKE CHARLES PORT LAKE CHARLES LCH AP LELAND BOWMAN LOCK MOSS BLUFF OAKDALE OBERLIN F/TWR ROCKEFELLER WL REF SULPHUR SOUTH CENTRAL DIVISION: BAYOU SORREL LOCK BREAUX BRIDGE 4 S BUTTE LA ROSE CARENCRO CARVILLE 2 SW M DONALDSONVILLE 4 SW FRANKLIN 3 NW JEANERETTE 5 NW LAFAYETTE LAFAYETTE LFT AP MORGAN CITY NAPOLEONVILLE NEW IBERIA NEW IBERIA ARA AP PLAQUEMINE 2 N ST GABRIEL ST MARTINVILLE 3 SW SALT POINT P SOUTHEAST DIVISION: BOOTHVILLE ASOS BURAS CHALMETTE CONVENT 2 S M DONALDSONVILLE 4 E GALLIANO GONZALES GRAND ISLE GRETNA M HOUMA LA NATURE CENTER M LSU-CITRUS RES STA LUTCHER MARRERO 9 SSW METAIRIE NEW ORLEANS MSY AP NEW ORLEANS AUDUBON NEW ORLEANS ALGIERS NEW ORLEANS NEW AP PARADIS 7 S RESERVE ST BERNARD M TERRYTOWN THIBODAUX 3 ESE Selected New Orleans DPS Sites: NO/DPS Algiers NO/DPS No M NO/Water Plant NO/Sewerage & WB M NO/DPS No NO/DPS No NO/DPS No M M

3 - 8 - LOUISIANA MONTHLY CLIMATE REVIEW FEBRUARY 2002 PRELIMINARY CLIMATE DATA TEMPERATURE ( F) PRECIPITATION (in.) AVG AVG MEAN Absolute No.Days Monthly Degree-Days Monthly MAX Rain Cumulative STATION MAX MIN TEMP Dept MAX MIN HDD Dept CDD Dept TOTAL Dept 1-Day Days TOTAL Dept NORTHWEST DIVISION: COUSHATTA 3 NE MANSFIELD MINDEN 59.8M 32.2M 46.0M RED RIVER RES STA SHREVEPORT CARGILL PK SHREVEPORT SHV AP Divisional Summary: NORTH CENTRAL DIVISION: BIENVILLE 3 NE CALHOUN RES STA COLUMBIA LOCKS FARMERVILLE HOMER 3 SSW MONROE MLU AP MONROE-ULM RUSTON-LA TECH STERLINGTON # WINNFIELD 2 W Divisional Summary: NORTHEAST DIVISION: BASTROP LAKE PROVIDENCE RAYVILLE M M M M ST JOSEPH 3 N TALLULAH WINNSBORO 5 SSE Divisional Summary: WEST CENTRAL DIVISION: ASHLAND HODGES GARDENS 62.1M 37.3M 49.7M M M LEESVILLE MANY M M M 3.82M M NATCHITOCHES ROSEPINE RES STA Divisional Summary: CENTRAL DIVISION: ALEXANDRIA ALEXANDRIA 5 SSE ALEXANDRIA ESF AP BOYCE 3 WNW 59.3M 39.6M 49.5M BRUSLY 2 W BUNKIE EUNICE GRAND COTEAU JENA 4 WSW JONESVILLE LOCKS LSU-DEAN LEE RES STA NEW ROADS 5 ESE M OLLA Divisional Summary: EAST CENTRAL DIVISION: AMITE BATON ROUGE BTR AP BOGALUSA CLINTON 5 SE COVINGTON 4 NNW 65.3M 37.7M 51.5M FRANKLINTON 5 SW HAMMOND 5 E LSU-BEN HUR FARM SLIDELL SLIDELL LIX WFO 61.5M 37.4M 49.5M Divisional Summary: SOUTHWEST DIVISION: CROWLEY 2 NE DE QUINCY DE RIDDER ELIZABETH HACKBERRY 8 SSW 61.3M 41.7M 51.5M JENNINGS LAKE ARTHUR 10 SW 63.4M 39.9M 51.7M LAKE CHARLES LCH AP LELAND BOWMAN LOCK OBERLIN F/TWR ROCKEFELLER WL REF Divisional Summary: SOUTH CENTRAL DIVISION: BREAUX BRIDGE 4 S CARVILLE 2 SW M DONALDSONVILLE 4 SW FRANKLIN 3 NW JEANERETTE 5 NW LAFAYETTE LAFAYETTE LFT AP MORGAN CITY NEW IBERIA Divisional Summary: SOUTHEAST DIVISION: BURAS GALLIANO HOUMA LSU-CITRUS RES STA MARRERO 9 SSW NEW ORLEANS MSY AP NEW ORLEANS AUDUBON NEW ORLEANS NEW AP RESERVE ST BERNARD M TERRYTOWN THIBODAUX 3 ESE Divisional Summary: Statewide Averages: ( M ) - indicates that daily observations are missing from the monthly or cumulative record

4 LOUISIANA MONTHLY CLIMATE REVIEW FEBRUARY 2002 DAILY CLIMOGRAPHS

5 - 6 - LOUISIANA MONTHLY CLIMATE REVIEW CENTRAL GULF COAST CLIMATE OUTLOOK NWS/Climate Prediction Center (CPC) "Long-Lead Outlooks" (LLOs) are released at mid-month; details regarding the LLOs can be found at: CPC s recent ENSO assessment suggests that an El Niño appears to be in the early stages of development, but that level of development (i.e., weak, moderate or strong warm-event) remains unclear. Areas of anomalouslywarm waters are evident in the equatorial Pacific, and these areas continue to expand in coverage. Sea-surface temperatures (SSTs) are normal to above-normal across the entire equatorial Pacific, with SSTs about 1 C (nearly 2 F) above normal near the International Date and west of the South American Coast. Sub-surface waters are especially warm in the east-central Pacific, and the energy within this sub-surface "warm pool" will likely become evident in the SSTs in the upcoming months. However, while the ocean profile appears to be moving towards an ENSO warm-phase (El Niño), atmospheric signals have yet to respond and continue to display neutral ENSO characteristics (La Nada) conditions thus far in Day Outlook: The April temperature outlook posts "climatology" (no apparent tendencies) across the Bayou State and throughout the Gulf Coast region. "Climatology" is also the official 30-day outlook for Louisiana rainfall and Gulf Coast regional rainfall. 90-Day Outlook: The 90-day (Apr-May-Jun) temperature outlook indicates "climatology" as the forecast for Louisiana and most Gulf Coast states throughout the spring, with a modest indication of "normal-to-warm" weather in store for the Texas Gulf Coast. The three-month outlook for precipitation also suggests no apparent tendencies ("climatology") for Louisiana through the spring. Indeed, "climatology" is the official 90-day precipitation forecast for almost the entire nation. SYNOPTIC WEATHER TYPE CALENDAR: FEBRUARY 2002 SHREVEPORT MONROE LAKE CHARLES BATON ROUGE NEW ORLEANS Date CH CH CH CH CH CH FOR FOR FOR FOR CH FOR CH CH CH FOR CH CH CH CH FOR FOR FOR FOR FOR FOR FOR FOR FOR FOR FOR FOR FOR FOR FOR FOR FOR FOR FOR FOR 5 FOR FOR FOR FOR FOR FOR FOR FOR FOR FOR FOR FOR FOR FOR FOR FOR FOR FOR FOR FOR FOR CH FOR FOR FOR CH FOR FOR FOR FOR CH CR CH CR CH CR CH CH FOR CH FOR GR CR GR FOR GR CH GR CH GR 10 CH CH FOR CH CH CH FOR CH FOR FOR FOR CH FOR CH CH CH FOR CH FOR FOR CH CH CH CH CH CH CH CH CH CH CH CH CH CH FOR CH FOR CH FOR FOR CH CR CH CH CH CR CH CH CH CH 15 CR FOR CR FOR FOR FGR FOR FGR FOR FGR CH CH CH CH CH CH FOR CH FOR CH CH CH CH CH CH CH CH CH CH CH CH GR CH CR CH GR CH CR CH CR GR FGR GR FGR GR FGR GR GR GR GR 20 PH PH PH PH PH PH FGR PH FGR FOR FGR FOR CH FOR CR FGR CH CR CH CR CH CH CH CH FOR CH FOR CH FOR FOR CH CR CH CH CH CR CH CH CH CH CR GR CH CR CR CR CH CR CH CR 25 FGR FGR GR FGR GR FGR CR GR CR GR CH CH CH CH FOR CH FOR CH FOR CH CH CH CH CH CH CH CH CH CH CH CH CR CH CH CH CR CH CH CH CH SYNOPTIC WEATHER TYPES by PERCENT: FEBRUARY 2002 Shreveport Monroe Lake Charles Baton Rouge New Orleans Pacific High (PH) Continental High (CH) Frontal Overrunning (FOR) Coastal Return (CR) Gulf Return (GR) Frontal Gulf Return (FGR) Gulf High (GH) Gulf Tropical Disturbance (GTD) Continental Index (CH+FOR) Tropical Index (GR+FGR+GTD) Storminess Index (FOR+FGR+GTD)

6 LOUISIANA MONTHLY CLIMATE REVIEW DAILY WATER BUDGETS Soil Moisture Storage (6" Capacity) MOISTURE STATUS SUMMARY Although rainfall was generally below-normal statewide, the environmental moisture demand during any February tends to be rather low. "Cooler-than-normal" weather experienced during February 2002, including unusually chilly weather at month s end, likely meant a further reduction in water needs, although February data indicate near-normal rates of water-loss from evaporation pans. Thornthwaite-Mather water-balance estimates from selected sites indicate that soil-moisture levels remained at or near-capacity throughout the month around the state, although model outputs indicated lower-than-normal amounts of surplus/run-off rainfall. Thus, while soils remained moist, waterway flooding was not a widespread concern. Weekly Palmer Drought Severity (PDSIs) and Crop Moisture Indices (CMIs) are produced by the NWS/Climate Prediction Center (CPC). The Drought Monitor is co-sponsored by the USDA, the NWS and the National Drought Mitigation Center (NDMC). February "wetness" -- as indicated by weekly PDSIs -- declined through the month across northern Louisiana as a result of February s dry weather, but northern parishes remain "moist" to "unusually moist" as of early March due to the low ET demand. Somewhat surprising, however, is the complete lack of even modest PDSI "dryness" across southeastern Louisiana given the three- to fourmonth run of dry weather being experienced in that part of the state. Weekly CMIs as of early March generally support the PDSI rankings, indicating wet upper-soil layers statewide. Some favorable drying is evident for sections of north Louisiana, but fields generally remain "wet" for most of the state as of early March. The weekly Drought Monitor did reflect some drying in the southeastern parishes by mid-month, with a "D0" ("abnormally dry") designation in effect for that part of Louisiana through the latter half of February. However, that dryness was quickly eliminated by 2" to 3" rains across the region during the first days of March. PDSI OUTLOOK With spring rainfall anticipated to be "near normal" for Louisiana, PDSI extended-range projections suggest that normal to wetter-than-normal conditions are likely to persist across the state through May. The likelihood of drought for most of northern Louisiana is set at less than a 1-in-10 chance, with the potential for the onset of drought estimated on the order of less than 1-in-3 for the southern half of the state. (CMI) (PDSI) *PRECIP CROP MOISTURE PALMER DROUGHT to END DIV INDEX SEVERITY INDEX DROUGHT NW Favorable Moist Spell NC Favorable-to-Wet Unusually Moist NE Favorable-to-Wet Unusually Moist WC Too Wet Unusually Moist C Too Wet Unusually Moist EC Too Wet Moist Spell SW Too Wet Moist Spell SC Too Wet Normal-to-Moist SE Fields Wet Normal-to-Moist (*) - rainfall needed in addition to the normal weekly total to bring the drought to an end PAN EVAPORATION: FEBRUARY 2002 DV Station Total Mean NW LSU-RED RIVER Res Sta 2.7"E 2.9" NC LSU-CALHOUN Res Sta 3.7"E 3.1" EC LSU-BEN HUR Farm 3.1"E 3.2" SW JENNINGS 3.1" 3.0" SE USDA-HOUMA Field Sta 3.1"E 3.0" E - Estimated monthly total

7 - 4 - LOUISIANA MONTHLY CLIMATE REVIEW TEMPERATURE SUMMARY February ends a string of three straight months with warmerthan-normal weather. February s statewide average temperature was 49.2 F, 3.1 below the new norm. Divisional monthly temperatures ranged from the mid 40 s (NW, NC) to the low 50 s (SE), and were from 2 to nearly 4 below the mean. February monthly maximums for individual sites ranged from the upper 50 s for the northern parishes to the low to mid 60 s along the coast; monthly maximums were generally 1 to 3 below normal for north Louisiana and 2 to 4 below the norm across the southern half of the state. February monthly minimums ranged from near freezing for several north Louisiana stations to the low 40 s over south Louisiana; minimum departures typically ranged from -2 to -4 statewide, with a few south Louisiana sites reporting minimum departures exceeding -5 F. Although near-record "warmth" closed-out January, climographs (p. 7) indicate that most of the first 7 to 10 days of February were much cooler-than-normal (highs indicated on Feb 1 for the morningreporting stations actually occurred on Jan 31st). Several NWS Cooperative sites in the NW and NC divisions reported freezing temperatures on half of all days during February, and every parish in the state recorded at least one day with a freeze. Temperatures through the middle of the month were generally near normal, but a late-season surge of very cold air into the Gulf Coast region is plainly evident at month s end. This end-of-month Arctic outbreak produced hard freezes as far south as the I-10/12 corridor, and tied or broke minimum records at numerous locations. Coushatta 3 NE (NW Div), Calhoun Res Sta (NC) and Homer 3 SSW (NC) all recorded minimums of 16 for the event, with teens recorded throughout most of the northern third of the state. Absolute MEAN Divisional Divisional DIV TEMP Normal Depart MAX MIN NW NC NE WC C EC SW SC SE FEBRUARY DEWPOINTS February average dewpoints ranged from the low to mid 30 s across northern Louisiana to near 40 along the coast, and were as much as 5 to 8 below long-term averages statewide. These large departures were the result of the persistence of "continental" air masses -- generally cooler and much drier than Gulf air masses. The response to February s first significant influx of Gulf air (Feb 18-19) is apparent in the daily time series (adjacent figure), with dewpoints climbing into the 50 s and 60 s; a second, brief surge of "moist" air is evident on Feb 24 and 25. However, the most obvious feature in the time series is the late-season Arctic surge at month s end. Hourly records show that dewpoints dipped into the single-digits as far south as Alexandria on Feb 26 and 27, with dewpoints as low as the teens extending into the coastal waters! PRELIM DEGREE-DAY SUMMARIES for SELECTED STATIONS: FEBRUARY 2002 Monthly HDDs Seasonal HDDs Monthly CDDs Seasonal CDDs TOTAL DEPT %Nrml TOTAL DEPT %Nrml TOTAL DEPT %Nrml TOTAL DEPT %Nrml SHREVEPORT SHV AP % % 0-8 0% % RUSTON-LA TECH % % 0 0 ** **** MONROE MLU AP % % 0-7 0% % NATCHITOCHES % % 0-6 0% % LEESVILLE % % 0-6 0% % ALEXANDRIA % % 0-8 0% % BATON ROUGE BTR AP % % % % SLIDELL % % % % LAKE CHARLES LCH AP % % % % LAFAYETTE LFT AP % % % % MORGAN CITY % % % % HOUMA % % % % THIBODAUX 3 ESE % % % % NEW ORLEANS MSY AP % % % % HDD Season: Jul Jun 2002 CDD Season: Jan Dec 2002

8 LOUISIANA MONTHLY CLIMATE REVIEW MONTHLY DIVISIONAL RAINFALL

9 - 2 - LOUISIANA MONTHLY CLIMATE REVIEW PRECIPITATION SUMMARY Statewide-weighted rainfall for February averaged only 2.9", the second consecutive month with precipitation running below the monthly norm -- and the first occurrence of back-to-back "dry" months for Louisiana since April-May Divisional monthly totals were below-normal statewide, ranging from just under 4" (NE & WC divs) to less than 2" (SC) -- departures were greatest for the southern divisions, exceeding -2" for the EC, SC and SE. February totals were less than 60% of normal for the EC, SW, SC and SE Divisions, with the SW Division reporting only one-third its normal February total! Although not "record-setting", February 2002 s dryness also is evident in that February divisional totals ranked among the twenty lowest in more than 100 years for the EC and SW divisions, and February s total for the SC Division ranks as the ninth "driest" for that region. Of roughly 200 sites, all reported between 3 and 9 raindays for February, with climographs (p. 7) indicating that these raindays were reasonably-well distributed through the month. However, most daily totals were relatively modest, with fewer than 20 sites reporting single-day totals of 2" or more. In fact, the "wettest" periods of the month were Feb 5-6 and Feb 19-20, and even these two-day events produced only a handful of 2" storm-totals around the state. More than 130 sites are now included among those with rainfall normals. Of these, only ten (five of which are located in the C Div) reported above-normal rainfall for February, including Jonesboro Locks (C Div), the only Louisiana Coop site to record more than 6" of rain for the month. More than 30 sites -- most located in the southern parishes -- received less than 2" of rain for the month, with six stations (4 in the SC Div) reporting less than 1" of rain for February Monthly PCT% Divisional DIV Total Normal DFN Norm MAX MIN NW % NC % NE % WC % C % EC % SW % SC % SE % is starting out as a "dry" year for many Louisiana parishes. State-averaged, two-month cumulative rainfall stands at just over 7", and is only 70% of normal. Cumulative totals for 2002 range from just under 10" (NC Div) to less than 6" (SW and SC divisions) and are below-normal for all regions. In fact, Jan-Feb totals were less than 65% of normal for the EC, SC and SE and only half the norm for the SW Division. Although divisional cumulative totals were well above all-time record lows, two-month sums for the SW and SC divisions did fall within the twenty lowest period totals of record for those two regions. Station cumulative (Jan+Feb) totals also show considerable within-state variability. Only nine Louisiana sites have received more than 10" of rain through the first two months of 2002, with only six stations (4 in the NC Div) reporting above-normal rainfall through February. Sterlington (NC Div) leads the state with 13.13" for a twomonth total, nearly 3" above that site s Jan-Feb cumulative norm. By comparison, ten sites have received less than 5" of rain thus far this year, with four south Louisiana sites (3 in the SW Div) reporting under 4" of rain for their cumulative totals Cumulative PCT% Prev Years DIV Total Normal DFN Norm NW % NC % NE % WC % C % EC % SW % SC % SE %

10 !" $#&% '( )+*,.-0/1( # (65 9:,;*)4<4= )+5 AB5 9+= 56CEDGFHDB*24*I J-K*:-K(L Vol. 22 No. 2 LSU FEBRUARY 2002 Visit the LOSC s website FEBRUARY HIGHLIGHTS Louisiana s statewide rainfall for February was 2.9", nearly 1¾" below the monthly norm. Rainfall was below normal statewide, with several south Louisiana parishes less that 50% of normal rain for the month. February is the second consecutive "dry" month for the Bayou State, with two-month totals running just 50% to 60% of normal for parts of south Louisiana. For many southeastern parishes, it has been an unusually "dry" fall and winter, as February is the fourth straight month with below-average precipitation for that section of the state. February s state-averaged temperature was 49, 3 below the norm --- ending a three-month run of warmer-than-normal weather for the state. Many northern parishes recorded morning freezes on 10 or more dates, with a late-season surge of Arctic air driving minimums down to the teens at month s end, with freezes extending statewide and hard freezes reported for 70% to 80% of the state. FEBRUARY WEATHER NOTES... a cool but "quiet" month in terms of weather patterns... The month began with light to moderate freezes across north Louisiana as an Arctic air mass that settled over the state, with cooler-than-normal weather continuing through most of the first half of the month. Cold air combined with Gulf moisture to produce wet weather on Feb 5-6, with 1" to 2" totals reported across many northern, central and western parishes. The NWS issued Winter Weather and Sleet Advisories for the northern third of the state, but real winter weather, including up to 4" of snow, remained north of the Bayou State. Light to moderate freezes extended to the I-10/12 corridor on the morning of Feb 8th, with a run of generally dry but cool weather settling in through Feb 18. Scattered, light showers -- producing less than 0.25" -- passed over central and western LA on Feb 9-10, and light rains -- generally under 0.10" -- fell across the southern parishes on Feb 13. A return of mild-and-moist southerly flow between Feb pushed afternoon temperatures into the upper 60 s to mid 70 s. Louisiana s first Tornado Watch of the new year was issued for sections of western, central and northeastern Louisiana on the evening of Feb 19, as thunderstorms developed ahead of an advancing cold front. These storms dumped 1" to 2" of rain over northern, central and southwestern Louisiana, with totals generally under 1" for the remainder of the state. Fortunately, there were no reports of severe weather. A second front quickly followed on Feb 20-21, producing light rains over northern, central and western parishes (under 0.50"), but little or no measurable rain for the southeastern quarter of the state. The remainder of February remained dry for most of Louisiana, with a late-season Arctic surge moving over the state during the final days of the month. Much of the state experienced some of the lowest temperatures of the season during this event, which was also the first extensive hard freeze since early January. Record lows were tied or broken for a number of locations on the mornings of Feb 27th and 28th, with minimums in the teens recorded for several northern parishes! Fortunately, preliminary assessments of the state s major fruit crops -- peaches, strawberries and Plaquemines Parish citrus -- showed only minimal damage or impacts.