The Climate Prediction Center 90 day outlook covering the period from July through September highlights a period of warmer than average conditions across most of the nation. Above average temperatures are the focus of the forecast for nearly all of the lower 48 states, with the highest probabilities in the Northeast and Four Corners.
The East Coast and Arizona are expected to see a wetter than normal 3 month period. This will help to reduce or bring an end drought conditions in those areas. The drought will likely worsen in portions of the High Plains and Northwest, as drier than average weather is expected through September from the central Plains to the Northwest.
A persistent La Nina was one the driving factors in the forecast and the Climate Prediction Center expects conditions to last for several months. La Nina occurs when the waters of the Pacific Ocean show a general trend of cooling, the opposite of an El Nino. The latest model guidance, soil moisture/drought conditions, and global circulation trends also impacted the julyoutlook.