[Fall colors in the Great Smoky Mountains in October 2018. Image from the National Park Service] Warmer than normal temperatures are in the forecast for much of the nation from the end of summer  into fall. That's according to the Climate Prediction Center's 90 day outlook, issued last week. The West, South, and East are predicted to see above average temperatures for the period covering the beginning of August through Halloween. It's expected to be wetter than normal from Montana through the Northern and High Plains. https://twitter.com/NWSCPC/status/1151838368445214721 Drought conditions are forecast to persist and expand in the Pacific Northwest and South Texas. Improvement to normal conditions are expected across the rest of the nation. https://twitter.com/NWSCPC/status/1151842983278456832 The Climate Prediction Center noted that the main forecast influences were model guidance, climate statistical tools, current soil moisture, and variability in the tropics.  Global patterns, including the weak El Nino in progress, and long term trends favor the warmer than average forecast for most of the East, South, and West. As moist conditions continue in the Plains and models remain in support of wet months ahead, above normal precipitation is expected. For WeatherNation: Meteorologist Mace Michaels