State Climatologist Predicts “Very Hot Summer” For La.

Summer has officially arrived. Temperatures on the first day of the hot season reached 93 degrees on Friday. And we can expect the summer "to be a hot one," says state climatologist Barry Keim.

The Climate Prediction Center is calling for normal precipitation across the region but they are calling for warmer than normal temperatures...All the indicators are suggesting that it is going to be a hot one, and the chances of seeing those really excessively hot temperatures is certainly going to be increased this summer.

Keim says at this time, there is no El Nino OR LA Nina phenomenon in the Pacific Ocean to modify weather conditions here, which means something meteorologists call ENSO-neutral conditions for the Gulf South and southern U.S.

They're anticipating that the Jet Stream over the Central United States is going to be deflected somewhat north. It's going to be situated further north than normal. And that creates a larger ridge over this region and that tends to bring very warm conditions for the Central Gulf Coast including Louisiana.

The good news is with that "normal precipitation across the region," fears of drought conditions for farmers should be eased.