Quarterly Climate Impacts
and Outlook
Southern
June 2018
National – Significant Events for May and Spring, 2018
Highlights for the Region
Temperatures varied spatially throughout
the Southern Region. The western part
of the region experienced above normal
temperatures, and the remainder of
the region experienced near normal
temperatures.
Spring precipitation also varied spatially
throughout the Southern Region. Parts
of Texas and Oklahoma received 25
percent or less of normal precipitation,
and parts of western Tennessee and
south central Mississippi received 150–
200 percent above normal precipitation.
The main climate impact for spring
in the Southern Region was extreme
temperatures. In April, temperatures
were well below normal, and in May the
temperatures were well above normal.
May 2018 was also the region's warmest
May on record.
The average U.S. temperature during May was 65.4°F, 5.2°F above average, and the
warmest on record. The spring average U.S. temperature was 52.4°F, 1.5°F above
average. The May U.S. precipitation was 2.97 inches, 0.06 inch above average. The spring
average U.S. precipitation was 7.91 inches, 0.03 inch below average.
Regional – Climate Overview for March to May 2018
Temperature and Precipitation Anomalies
Departure from Normal (F)
3/01/2018–5/31/2018
Overall, temperatures throughout
most of the Southern Region were
between 2°F below to 5°F above
normal for the period spanning from
March to May 2018. There were areas
of 3–5°F above normal temperatures
in Texas and Oklahoma. There were
a few areas in eastern Louisiana,
Mississippi, and Tennessee that were
1–2°F below normal.
Percent of Normal (%)
3/01/2018–5/31/2018
Spring precipitation varied spatially
throughout the Southern Region.
Areas in western Texas received
25 percent or less of normal
precipitation. In contrast, areas of
south central Mississippi and eastern
Tennessee received 150–200 percent
of normal precipitation. Most areas in
the central part of the region received
near normal precipitation.
Streamflows
May average streamflow
versus historical streamflow
This figure illustrates May average
streamflows in the Texas Gulf and
Lower Mississippi Basins as compared
to historical streamflows. Louisiana,
Tennessee, and Mississippi have near
normal streamflow. Eastern Texas and
southern Arkansas are experiencing
below normal streamflow. Northern
Mississippi is experiencing above
normal streamflow.
Southern Region Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook | June 2018
https://www.drought.gov/drought/resources/reports
Contact: Rudy Bartels (rbartels@srcc.lsu.edu)
Regional Impacts — For March to May 2018
Extreme Temperatures
April temperatures were well below normal for parts of the Southern Region. In contrast, May was the warmest May
on record for the Southern Region (1895–2018). In April, western Tennessee, north and central Arkansas, central
and northeastern Oklahoma, and an area in central Texas experienced temperatures 6° to 8°F (3.33° to 4.44°C)
below normal. Most of Arkansas and Oklahoma, central and western Tennessee, northern, central, and southeast
Mississippi, central and southern Louisiana, and northeastern Texas were 4° to 6°F (2.22° to 3.33°C) below normal. May
temperatures were above normal throughout most of the Southern Region. Western Oklahoma and northern Texas
experienced temperatures 8° to 10°F (4.44° to 5.55°C) above normal. Most of Arkansas, Tennessee, and Oklahoma,
northern, central and western Texas, northern Louisiana, and northern and central Mississippi experienced 4° to 8°F
(2.22° to 4.44°C) above normal. There were only a few areas in southwest Texas that experienced slightly below normal
temperatures. The statewide temperature rankings for May were as follows: Arkansas (first warmest), Louisiana (third
warmest), Mississippi (fourth warmest), Oklahoma (first warmest), Tennessee (second warmest), and Texas (second
warmest).
Above: Departure from normal temperature in April (left), in May (middle), and May temperature ranks (right).
CPC –Three-Month Outlook
Temperature Precipitation
Outlook for June to August 2018
A = Above normal temperatures EC = Equal chances
B = Below normal rainfall N = Normal
According to the Climate Prediction Center, June through August temperatures
for the Southern Region are expected to be above normal, continuing the
pattern of recent weeks. Chances are highest in far western Texas and decrease
from west to east across the region.
There is an equal chance of above or below normal precipitation from June
through August across most of the Southern Region. Tennessee, eastern
Mississippi, and southeastern Louisiana have a chance of receiving above normal
precipitation.
Hurricane Outlook
NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center
is calling for a 75 percent chance of a
near to above normal 2018 Atlantic
tropical cyclone season. CPC calls
for a 70 percent likelihood of 10
–16 named storms (average: 12), 5–9
hurricanes (average: 6), and 1–4 major
hurricanes (average: 3).
Gulf Regional Partners
Contact: Rudy Bartels (rbartels@srcc.lsu.edu)
#regionalclimateoutlooks
Southern Region Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook | June 2018
https://www.drought.gov/drought/resources/reports
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)