Spring Outlook Issued from NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center
This morning, NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center issued their outlook for Spring. Warmer and drier than average conditions are expected across most of the South, especially in the Southwest. The March to May forecast has above average precipitation across the northern tier of the nation. Colder than normal temperatures are expected in the Northwest.
Odds are tilted towards warm and dry conditions in our forecast for March through May from California through the Southern Plains, which could intensify drought concerns for the region. https://t.co/mOJL9KhAZX pic.twitter.com/IoC2908SIF
— NWSCPC (@NWSCPC) February 15, 2018
Drought conditions are expected to worsen in the Southwest with the below average precipitation forecast for Spring. Drought coverage is expected to expand across the West. Drought improvement and contraction is in the outlook for the western Corn Belt, lower Mississippi Valley, and parts of the Southeast.
Development of #drought is likely across parts of California and the Great Basin during the next 3 months, plus areas of Texas and the Southeast. Odds tilt towards Improvement in the eastern third of the country for precipitation anticipated before March. https://t.co/CPY78JXHKa pic.twitter.com/4PGR0Vgb6y
— NWSCPC (@NWSCPC) February 15, 2018
La Nina has been the words of this Winter, as the waters of the Central Pacific Ocean remain below average. According to the Climate Prediction Center, La Nina is expected to decay rapidly with water temperatures returning to near normal over the Spring months. This trend was followed closely for the Spring forecast, along with model guidance.
For WeatherNation: Meteorologist Mace Michaels