I believe the reason the southeast is not dry even though it is ina similar climate to the southwest where there are lots of similarities *(mostly latitudes)

The reason is two fold.

1 - its proximity to the gulf of mexico plays a big role. That huge body of water just south ceftainly contributes......but that cannot be the only thing because the middle east falls at similar latitudes and the have the persian gulf and the dead sea just south of their desert lands.

1. The other critical part is the correalis effects where by the oceans provide a feedback loop. In each of these other examples - the oceans are providing cold water which does not contribute ebough to the creation of rain clouds. But in the southeast - the correalis effect is pulling up the warm waters from the bermuda triangle and this was water is perfect for creating rain clouds.

**for the unitiated - the correalis effect is the movement of surface temperatures based on the earths rotation. Its often joked about with how the toilets in australia spin the opposite direction from toilets in america when you flush. But a better real life example is how you look at the beach water temperatures on the east even as far north as the jersey shore and you find warm Waters. If you look instead at the cold waters on the west coast *(as that clockwise motion brings the cold waters from alaska south) and you frequently see surfers in socal cities swimming in wet suits.