[Photo by Ales Krivec on Unsplash]
NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center updated their March outlook today. It calls for colder than normal temperatures across much of the nation, especially in the northern and high Plains. Only two pockets of the nation are expected to see warmer than normal weather for the month: New Mexico and Florida.
Wetter than average conditions are expected across most of the Southeast and Southwest. A small area in the northern Plains near the Canadian Border may see drier than normal weather over the next 30 days.
Our final outlook for March sees increased chances for above-normal precipitation focused on the Central Great Basin and Lower Mississippi Valley through the Central Appalachians. https://t.co/JI2DUuZKvx pic.twitter.com/z8Aw9hy0rD
— NWSCPC (@NWSCPC) February 28, 2019
The drought forecast
Development of #drought is likely for parts of the Southern Plains during March, while widespread improvement or removal of drought conditions is likely across the Four Corners region and Central Great Basin. https://t.co/9pT87Dasbb pic.twitter.com/iUxK7XD1kT
— NWSCPC (@NWSCPC) February 28, 2019
There were some changes made from the initial March outlook issued one week ago, last Thursday. In the temperature outlook, the core of the colder than average forecast for northern Plains has been shifted slightly further west. The Eastern Seaboard was originally forecast to have above average temperatures, but that had been removed. The Northeast was added to the below normal temperature forecast in the Plains and Great Lakes. The main changes made to the precipitation forecast was the addition of above average precipitation in the West.
Our initial March forecast anticipates increased chances of below-normal temperatures across much of the Great Plains and Mississippi Valley. Wetter than normal conditions are favored across the Gulf Coast and up the Eastern Seaboard. https://t.co/JI2DUuZKvx pic.twitter.com/tAt5vZE4GR
— NWSCPC (@NWSCPC) February 21, 2019
The Climate Prediction Center noted that the main influences for this forecast update included current snow cover, global weather patterns, model guidance, and long term temperature trends. El Nino conditions were not heavily considered for the March outlook.
For WeatherNation: Meteorologist Mace Michaels