Extended weather outlook offers hopes for improvement during spring

The National Weather Service 90-day forecast continues to give elevated odds of above-normal temps across HRW areas of the Southern Plains through May. But the area expected to see below-normal precip is smaller and has shifted west to cover only the far southwestern portion of the region. Areas of the Central Plains and Northern Plains are expected to see “equal chances” for above-, below- and normal precip from March through May. Equal chances of temps are forecast for most of those areas, though North Dakota through the Pacific Northwest are likely to be colder than normal.

NWS says spring weather is likely to feature “equal chances” of temps over the central Corn Belt, with above-normal readings across the far southern and eastern areas of the region. The precip outlook calls for above-normal rainfall over the eastern two-thirds of the Corn Belt, with “equal chances” for the other locations of the region.

The Seasonal Drought Outlook calls for drought to persist or develop over the western HRW areas of the Southern and Central Plains through May. Drought improvement or removal is likely over eastern and northern HRW areas and the western Corn Belt during spring.