December Outlook: Wet in the West, Warmer for Most Areas

news image
Special Stories
21 Nov 2019 2:00 PM
[Snow covered trees from Lake Tahoe. Photo by Todd Diemer on Unsplash] The outlook is in for the first month of winter and the season expected to start on a mild note. That's according to NOAA's Climate Prediction Center, which issued the forecast this morning (Thursday). Most of the nation is expected to see a warmer than normal month, with the highest likelihood along the Gulf of Mexico coastline, in the Southeast and throughout the Middle Atlantic. https://twitter.com/NWSCPC/status/1197510542719512578 Increased snowfall is a good bet throughout the Rockies and into the Great Basin. The precipitation forecast is calling for a wetter than average month for those areas. A small area of drier than normal weather is predicted for South Texas. The outlook was based on model guidance, global patterns, climate observations and long-term trends. With no presence of El Nino or La Nina, weather model forecasts of expected global patterns influenced the forecast the most.
All Weather News
More
Flooding & Severe Storms Persist in the Southern Plains

Flooding & Severe Storms Persist in the Southern Plains

Severe weather has returned to parts of the P

15 Oct 2026 1:00 PM
Severe Storms to Snow, Big Changes for the Midwest and Northeast

Severe Storms to Snow, Big Changes for the Midwest and Northeast

A pair of low pressure systems will combine t

15 Oct 2026 12:50 PM
Hot Weather Baking the Heartland This Week, Cooler Air Incoming

Hot Weather Baking the Heartland This Week, Cooler Air Incoming

More records were broken across the Midwest a

15 Oct 2026 11:55 AM
Tropics: Pacific Stays Hyperactive, Atlantic Quiets Down

Tropics: Pacific Stays Hyperactive, Atlantic Quiets Down

Isaias ended the late-season streak of no hur

15 Oct 2026 10:00 AM
Cooler Air & Lingering Snow for The Rockies

Cooler Air & Lingering Snow for The Rockies

A digging trough is bringing cooler temperatu

15 Oct 2026 10:00 AM
Rachel Spreading Moisture Across the Southwest

Rachel Spreading Moisture Across the Southwest

Rachel came ashore in far northwestern Mexico

13 Oct 2026 12:10 AM
Isaias Makes Landfall as A Category 2, Recapping it's Impacts

Isaias Makes Landfall as A Category 2, Recapping it's Impacts

Hurricane Isaias made landfall near Destin, F

12 Oct 2026 11:00 PM