AccuWeather.com

The southeastern United States has endured a debilitating drought for the past several weeks, and with winter approaching, the region may be in it for the long haul.

To put matters into perspective, Birmingham, Ala. has recorded just 54 percent of their normal rainfall since June 1.

As spring gave way to summer, the Bermuda High, typically positioned over the western Atlantic Ocean during the summer months, was found farther west over the South for much of the season. This not only led to the warm summer the region endured, but it also deflected a large amount of precipitation to the north.

To add to the problems, "drought begets more drought," according to AccuWeather.com Senior Meteorologist and Southeastern Expert Frank Strait.

As the temperature rises, evaporation increases, which in turn dries the ground. This cycle is a self-intensifying loop, and it set the stage for months of dry conditions to follow in the South.

With the exception of Tropical Depression 5, the South has been spared the majority of the 2010 Atlantic hurricane season's activity. Although hurricanes can be devastating for the Southern states, the area relies heavily on precipitation tropical storms bring.

This lack of tropical activity has added to the South's drought woes.

Weakening tropical systems like TD 5 would create an ideal situation for the South, according to AccuWeather.com Senior Meteorologist Kristina Pydynowski.

"TD 5 had no direct landfall on the coast," she said. "The storm caused no extensive damage to the region while being a significant rainmaker for much of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama."

Unfortunately for the South, there is no strong likelihood of tropical activity to help the drought situation before the season ends.

"Oftentimes any system to develop in the Gulf or Caribbean will be diverted away by the Westerlies," according to Strait.

As hurricane season makes way for wintertime, problems will likely continue as a La Niña pattern winter will move into place over the next several months.

During a La Niña winter, the southern jet stream moves northward, taking with it a significant amount of precipitation. The lower half of the country experiences dry, mild conditions throughout the season.

According to Strait, the best chance the South has for precipitation before winter sets in is right now.

"The storm path is actually to the south right now," he said, "so hopefully they can get as much rain as they can before the La Niña winter settles in."

Although a La Niña pattern is not supportive of precipitation in the region, that does not eliminate the possibility of heavy downpours or even snow, Strait said. However, a small amount of rainfall can be deceptive and lead some to believe that the drought has ended.

"During the winter, evaporation slows and the ground stays wetter for longer periods of time," he said. "However, this little amount of precipitation likely won't do much to aid the water table."

Following the La Niña winter, Strait said that Southerners should be optimistic for rain during the spring months, as this is also a crucial time for precipitation before the warm summer settles in.

Related to the Story:

Little Relief Coming to Drought-Stricken South

La Nina Vs El Nino

Southeast Radar

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By Gina Cherundolo, AccuWeather.com Staff Writer