06/15/2025 - 06/21/2025

Climate in the News:

The National Weather Service expects hazardous heat conditions through Sunday in the Southern Region. This heat is part of the first significant and dangerous heat wave of the summer. Impacted areas are shaded below in red and include Arkansas, Tennessee, and parts of northern Louisiana and Mississippi.

Weather Synopsis:

A boundary of clashing cool and warm air stalled over the northern margins of the Southern Region last week. Initially draped diagonally across central Oklahoma to the northeast, this system progresses southward to Arkansas and Tennessee over the week and initiated thunderstorms. The boundary moved out of Tennessee by Saturday evening, leaving the Southern Region with warm and moisture-rich air from the Gulf. On Tuesday, atmospheric conditions allowed storms to produce 2-inch hail in the Texas Panhandle, 70+ mph winds in northern Oklahoma, and 8 tornado damage reports across northeast Oklahoma and northwest Arkansas. The next day, 2 EF-0 tornadoes struck middle Tennessee, and a 25-minute-long landspout struck Jackson County, Oklahoma.

Temperature: 

Climatologically, June is the third-hottest month of the year for the Southern Region. Most of the Region often sees daily average temperatures in the 80s.

Last week, temperatures were seasonable for most of the Southern Region. Daily rainfall and persistent cloud cover kept parts of Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Texas slightly cooler than normal. Hot daily average temperatures reached northward, resulting in 85°F averages for most of Louisiana and Texas and parts of Arkansas and Oklahoma. Overall, average temperatures for the week ranged from the 70s to the 90s.

Precipitation: 

With most of the Region located in a humid subtropical climate, rainfall occurs at any point of the year. During the summer months, sea breezes initiate thunderstorms and rain showers, which are quite common along the coastal areas. In June, severe storm probabilities are at their highest in Oklahoma and the Texas Panhandle.

The previously mentioned boundary was responsible for much of the rainfall in the Southern Region last week. Sea breezes also fired storms along the coast. Rainfall was widespread, especially in Tennessee and Mississippi, where the whole state received at least 0.5 inches of rain. Mississippi, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Tennessee had the most rainfall, with parts getting 5 to 8 inches. Most of Mississippi, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and the South Texas coast all accumulated 2 times their normal rainfall this time of the year.

Drought: 

Texas is the only state in the Region affected by drought this week. (D4) Exceptional Drought continues to plague the South Central, Edwards Plateau, and Trans Pecos regions, especially west San Antonio. Though rainfall from the previous weeks contributed slightly to the replenishment of groundwater in South-Central Texas, more rainfall events are needed to bring water levels back from long-term drought conditions. Last week’s precipitation discussed above will be considered in the next assessment of the drought monitor.