Yesterday the National Weather Service released updated 90-day seasonal outlooks covering December through February. The outlook for temperatures shows most of the southern U.S. is likely to rend warmer than average this winter, a common occurrence during La Nina years. Temperatures are likely to be cooler than average across the northern plains and upper Midwest. The lower Midwest and most of the eastern corn belt have equal chances of trending warmer or cooler.
The precipitation outlook expects most of the deep south, particularly coastal Georgia and the Florida panhandle, to see drier conditions. This is a continuation of the drier conditions that have prevailed in the area for most of the late summer and early fall. Rainfall is likely to be above average in the eastern corn belt, hopefully bringing some drought relief to areas along the Indiana-Ohio border. Precipitation is also expected to be higher than usual in Montana, the Dakotas, and across most of the upper Midwest in general.
The seasonal drought outlook notably expects drought conditions to improve in the Pacific northwest and swaths of central Illinois and Indiana. The deep south’s long-term forecast for warm and dry conditions results in the drought outlook expecting worsening conditions throughout the winter months. Drought is also likely to develop in new areas along the mid-Atlantic coast.
