Dear WeatherCat climate watchers,
March is here and here is the 1 month and 3 month forecasts from the National Weather Service - Climate Predication Center for the end of Winter into the start of Spring. Here is the one month forecasts of departures from normal temperatures for March:
This once more puts a large part of the country back into below normal temperatures like December's forecast.
Here is the equivalent 3 months predictions of temperatures departures from normal for March through May:
The 3 month forecast is a curious blend of their usual
"gloom and doom" of higher temperatures with more uncertainty.
Here are the precipitation predictions of departures from normal for March:
This is a claim that it will be wet March for most of the country. We'll see if this pans out.
Here is the equivalent graph for March to May:
This is a somewhat more hesitant forecast with about half of the country with an equal chance of the 3 possible outcomes. The southern half from Arizona to the Atlantic seaboard is supposed to get above normal rain with most of the Eastern Seaboard also benefiting
Here are drought forecasts. Here is the drought outlook for March:
This is the most optimistic drought forecast I've seen thus far! Only areas of Texas see worsening drought.
Here is the equivalent 3 month outlook:
This too is amazingly optimistic. Only a modest region of Oregon is expected to have persistent drought.
In this case the 64-dollar question is: just how much can we believe these forecasts and is it good news or bad in some yet unexpected way? . . . .
Whatever the situation, all we can do is grin and bear it!
Edouard