January 2019 Outlook from NOAA's Climate Prediction Center

news image
Special Stories
21 Dec 2018 3:09 PM
On Thursday, the Climate Prediction Center issued their 30 day forecast for January. Warmer than normal temperatures are expected across most of the West, with below average readings in the Southeast. The South is expected to see wetter than normal weather, with below average precipitation in the Northwest and Ohio Valley. https://twitter.com/NWSCPC/status/1075749752531230721 The main forecast influences were global pattern trends and long range model forecasts. An extensively discussed El Nino is underway in the Pacific Ocean, but the atmosphere has yet to respond. Observed sea surface temperatures in the Pacific are warmer than normal as expected, with computer models expecting this to continue. Right now, the overall global pattern resembles neutral conditions. Based on the latest observations and model forecasts, the CPC still indicates a greater than 80 percent chance for El Nino from January to March and 70 percent that it persists through May. [November 2018 sea surface temperature departure from the 1981-2010 average. Graphic by NOAA Climate; data from NOAA’s Environmental Visualization Lab.] For WeatherNation: Meteorologist Mace Michaels  
All Weather News
More
Storms Picking on the High Plains

Storms Picking on the High Plains

CENTRAL U.S - A trough pushing in from the we

16 Sep 2025 6:15 PM
Eastern Pacific: Mario Returns, Sends Moisture to California

Eastern Pacific: Mario Returns, Sends Moisture to California

While the Atlantic has been relatively quiet

16 Sep 2025 6:10 PM
Coastal Low Spins Trouble Onshore

Coastal Low Spins Trouble Onshore

We've got a low-pressure system out over the

16 Sep 2025 6:10 PM
Florida Rainfall: Nuisance or Beneficial?

Florida Rainfall: Nuisance or Beneficial?

The dry time has been a little hard to enjoy

16 Sep 2025 12:35 PM
Northern Lights Close Out the Weekend For Many

Northern Lights Close Out the Weekend For Many

Did you see them? Many might have had better

15 Sep 2025 10:30 PM
Fall Color Starting to Show In Parts of the Lower 48

Fall Color Starting to Show In Parts of the Lower 48

Grab the pumpkin spice and apple cider donuts

15 Sep 2025 1:10 AM
Severe Storms Look More Likely This Afternoon

Severe Storms Look More Likely This Afternoon

A strong upper-level trough along with monsoo

14 Sep 2025 7:30 PM