'Global warming is upon us': Extreme weather in Louisiana. (Photo credit: Louisiana National Guard/Flickr)
This summer, an unprecedented flash drought has gripped parts of the South, with its effects also observed in the upper Midwest. As a result, large sections of the Mississippi River have experienced alarmingly low water levels, with some areas nearing historic lows for the second consecutive year.
This situation is critical. Low water impedes the usual volume of barge traffic. About 60 percent of U.S. grain exports are transported via barges down the Mississippi. Low water levels elevate transportation costs, either by necessitating lighter, fewer barges or transferring cargo to trucks.
Saltwater from the Gulf of Mexico is bleeding into parts of Louisiana due to low river levels. The phenomenon is a consequence of the dredged section of the river south of Natchez, Mississippi, being below sea level. Saltwater intrusion poses threats to drinking water supplies, agriculture, and other infrastructure. Louisiana's Governor, John Bel Edwards, is considering an emergency declaration to marshal additional resources to address this challenge.
The summer saw the drought intensifying across the Mississippi Valley, stretching from Minnesota and Wisconsin down to Louisiana and Mississippi. This drought also extended to crucial tributaries such as the Missouri, Arkansas, and Red Rivers. In a particularly stark manifestation of the drought's impact, Louisiana experienced its warmest summer ever recorded. The previous three months leading up to last Saturday set records for the driest June 24 - September 23 interval in both Lake Charles and New Orleans.
While there's some respite with rain forecasted for parts of the lower Mississippi Valley, expected rainfall will likely be under an inch, insufficient to make a significant impact on river levels.
However, there's optimism on the horizon. NOAA's recent seasonal outlook predicts that much of the ongoing drought in the Mississippi Valley will either improve or completely subside by year's end.
This anticipated improvement is partly attributed to a strengthening El Niño, which usually augments the southern or subtropical jet stream, ushering in wetter conditions during the South's fall and winter. Another variable to watch is the remainder of the hurricane season. A slow-moving tropical storm could bring much-needed rain, but with the caveat that excessive rainfall might trigger flash floods.
With Open AI.