Updated January Forecast from NOAA's Climate Prediction Center

news image
Special Stories
3 Jan 2019 8:14 AM
Earlier this week, NOAA's Climate Prediction Center updated their outlook for January. The forecast continues to highlight warmer than average temperatures across the West, with an added extension into the Upper Midwest. Below normal temperatures are now expected in New England, but no longer in the Tennessee Valley. Little change was made to the precipitation forecast, with wetter than normal weather expected throughout the southern tier of the nation and below normal conditions across the north. https://twitter.com/NWSCPC/status/1079831539934994432 Good news in the drought forecast to start 2019. Conditions should continue to improve over the Southwest, with no development areas expected. https://twitter.com/NWSCPC/status/1079832000356368384 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 been slow 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
Rounds of Severe Storms to Impact Great Plains and Midwest Through the Weekend

Rounds of Severe Storms to Impact Great Plains and Midwest Through the Weekend

A dynamic summer weather pattern is setting t

11 Jul 2025 3:20 AM
Storms Return From the Front Range to Texas

Storms Return From the Front Range to Texas

Moisture is moving back into the Central and

11 Jul 2025 3:00 AM
Medium Range Tropics Forecast Favors Gulf, CSU Updates Seasonal Forecast

Medium Range Tropics Forecast Favors Gulf, CSU Updates Seasonal Forecast

While the Atlantic appears quiet, conditions

11 Jul 2025 2:40 AM
Severe Thunderstorms Expected Across the East Coast

Severe Thunderstorms Expected Across the East Coast

The severe weather and flood threat continues

11 Jul 2025 2:35 AM
Timeline: How Catastrophic Flooding Unfolded in Texas Hill Country

Timeline: How Catastrophic Flooding Unfolded in Texas Hill Country

TEXAS - Catastrophic flooding devastated port

10 Jul 2025 10:00 AM
Ruidoso Flash Flooding - Record Crest for the Rio Ruidoso River

Ruidoso Flash Flooding - Record Crest for the Rio Ruidoso River

A slow-moving monsoonal thunderstorm develope

10 Jul 2025 1:55 AM
Dangerous Heat Building Out West

Dangerous Heat Building Out West

WEST - Heat alerts have been issued across th

9 Jul 2025 9:00 AM