Dear WeatherCat climate watchers,
Spring has officially sprung and here is the first 1 month and 3 month forecasts from the National Weather Service -
Climate Predication Center for Spring. Here is the one month forecasts of departures from normal temperatures for April:
This is rather typical of the "warming up everywhere" sort of forecast that the Climate Predication Center is more commonly likely to forecast around summer.
Here is the equivalent 3 months predictions of temperatures departures from normal for April through June:
This outlook is definitely more complex. Although besides the region of cold in the center of the country, it is perhaps more consistent than it might appear. The Equal Chance means there is a 1/3 chance of heat for most of the country.
Here are the precipitation predictions of departures from normal for April:
This is interesting because it forecasts above normal rain for a very large part of the country. Once more the point about Equal Chance applies.
Here is the equivalent graph for April to June:
This graph is making a similar predication for the Spring season. This is of course good for droughts but bad for flooding. Speaking of flooding I've collected the current flooding forecast for the Spring season:
This figure is part of the
NOAA Spring Flooding outlook press release. As reported elsewhere on this forum, it is to going to be difficult season for the plains especially if the rains are heavy this Spring.
On the other extreme, here are drought forecasts. Here is the drought outlook for April:
The extra precipitation has helped most of the country. Here is the equivalent 3 month outlook:
It paints an even more optimistic pictures of drought in the United States.
Since the data is out, I've decided to add the Wildfire predictions. These come from the
NICC - National Interagency Coordination Center. Unfortunately, these come only monthly. Here is April:
There are only small regions of increased fire risk within the continental 48. The only exception being parts of Washington state suffering from drought and a curious line stretching across the Nevada, Utah, and Arizona border. The situation in Alaska and Hawaii does seem serious nonetheless. Here is the May outlook:
It is very similar to the April outlook. It isn't until June that the outlook expands the threats:
For June wildfire threats start appearing in California even with all the rains and Arizona. They also expand in Washington state. However, the 4-corners region shifts to less likely fires presumably because of expected monsoon rains.
As usual, Like it or not, such are the forecasts we are facing . . . .
Edouard