NOAA's Climate Prediction Center has updated their July forecast and more heat is expected for the month ahead over most of the nation. The only area in the nation predicted to see cooler than normal weather is along the east slope of the Rockies in the Northwest. In the precipitation outlook, there was little change from the previous forecast issued less than 2 weeks ago. Above normal rainfall is still expected in the Southwest, where drought conditions are likely to improve. With drier than normal weather in the southern Plains and Northeast, drought conditions may expand. An area of wetter than normal weather was added to the Southeast. https://twitter.com/NWSCPC/status/1013755830532001792 The most notable overall changes were made in the Pacific Northwest. Above average temperatures and drier than normal rainfall was removed as long range models show a cooler and more moist upper level pattern. The models continue to indicate an active start to the monsoons in the West, along with wet signals in the tropical Pacific. This leads to the above average rainfall forecast for the Southwest. A drier trend is shown in the models for the Caribbean over the upcoming month, highlighting below average precipitation in Deep South. For WeatherNation: Meteorologist Mace Michaels