|
1/19/2024
WT Staff
HAPPENING NOW
NWS: Prepare for hard freeze the next 2 nights
Severe drought returns to west LA
Water news for Friday, January 19, 2024 - last updated 1005 am CST
National Weather Service Urgent Weather Message issued 359 am CST Jan 19
Impacting Pointe Coupee-West Feliciana-East Feliciana-St. Helena-Washington-Iberville-West Baton Rouge-East Baton Rouge-Northern Tangipahoa-Southeast St. Tammany-Northern St. Tammany-Southwestern St. Tammany-Central Tangipahoa-Lower Tangipahoa-Northern Livingston-Southern Livingston-Western Ascension-Eastern Ascension Parishes
HARD FREEZE WARNING MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 9 AM CST SATURDAY...MIDNIGHT SATURDAY NIGHT TO 9 AM CST SUNDAY...Sub-freezing temperatures as low as 22 expected in portions of southeast Louisiana and southern Mississippi.
Frost and freeze conditions will kill crops, other sensitive vegetation and possibly damage unprotected outdoor plumbing. Take steps now to protect tender plants from the cold. To prevent freezing and possible bursting of outdoor water pipes they should be wrapped, drained, or allowed to drip slowly. Those that have in-ground sprinkler systems should drain them and cover above-ground pipes to protect them from freezing.
WIND CHILL ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 9 AM CST SATURDAY...Very cold wind chills expected, as low as 10 above zero in portions of southeast Louisiana and southern Mississippi.
Very cold temperatures and wind chills can lead to hypothermia if proper clothing is not worn. Use caution while traveling outside. Wear appropriate clothing, a hat, and gloves.
Drinking Water Matters
Water facilities across the state have issued boil advisories this week following a hard freeze and loss of water pressure resulting from connections left open to drip as recommended. With hard freeze expected again tonight and tomorrow night, drinking water supplies will continue to be impacted, more to follow.
See yellow tags on the map for BWAs.
Streamflow Situation from USGS real time streamflow monitoring stations around the eight watersheds of the state
Below normal flows have replaced normal ratings in the east Region 7. Much below normal flows continue on the west side, Region 4 and 5. In the northwest Region 1 and Region 3 still show two locations recording seasonal normal levels. The remaining stations range from below normal to much below normal.
Friday morning there are five stations recording extreme low levels.
Drought Map from USGS 7-day average streamflows compared to historic averages
Region 7 Tangipahoa Parish is back on the drought map Friday rated below normal along the path of Tangipahoa River. The streamflow monitor at Robert was recording an extreme low level yesterday, increasing to much below normal Friday.
Severe drought traces the Sabine River through Region 4 again today, expanding overnight to take most of Vernon Parish and north Beauregard Parish. The remaining surface area of Regions 4 is rated moderate hydrologic drought, as is the majority of Region 5, excluding Acadia and Evangeline Parishes, rated below normal.
In the northwest, Region 1 area on the drought map increased overnight, now including more of Bienville Parish at below normal. Region 2 Grant and LaSalle Parishes remain at moderate drought. A large area of Region 3 appears back on the drought map west of Tensas River at below normal, including Morehouse, Richland and Franklin Parishes, the narrow strip along either side of the Tensas River has stepped up to moderate drought.
Watershed regions 6 and 8 stay clear of the drought map Friday, bracing for another hard freeze tonight.
See the Flood button to the right of the map for more information on streamflows. Red-brown tags on the map refer to extreme low flows.
Note WaterToday reports day-to-day changes recorded by USGS streamflow monitors on rivers and tributaries located in Louisiana, along with monitors upstream in the Mississippi River basin: Ohio, Georgia and southwest New York state. USGS creates a drought map from 7-day average streamflow readings, by comparing the average with the historic weekly normal flow value for each location. The drought ratings are below normal, moderate hydrologic drought, severe drought and extreme drought.
HABs Report from National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) satellite monitoring program
As of the Friday morning update, there are no new NCCOS images to review. As reported yesterday, the image from Jan 17 provides a clear view of southeast LA, taken at wind speed 10.4 mph. No HAB activity shows on Lake Pontchartrain, Irish Bayou, Lake Maurepas, Lake Verret, Lake Palourde, Catouache or Lake Salvador. Lake Lery and Black Bay inland water bodies appear with lakewide HABs at a lower concentration than previously noted, 100 thousand cells per 100 ml.
USGS Provisional Data Statement
Data are provisional and subject to revision until they have been thoroughly reviewed and received final approval. Current condition data relayed by satellite or other telemetry are automatically screened to not display improbable values until they can be verified.
Provisional data may be inaccurate due to instrument malfunctions or physical changes at the measurement site. Subsequent review based on field inspections and measurements may result in significant revisions to the data.
Data users are cautioned to consider carefully the provisional nature of the information before using it for decisions that concern personal or public safety or the conduct of business that involves substantial monetary or operational consequences. Information concerning the accuracy and appropriate uses of these data or concerning other hydrologic data may be obtained from the USGS.
|
|
|
All rights reserved 2022 - WTLA - This material may not be reproduced in whole or in part and may not be distributed,
publicly performed, proxy cached or otherwise used, except with express permission.
|
| 
| ABOUT 
