The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Weather Service have released their projected outlook for the winter of 2021-2022 (December through February) in the United States.
Precipitation
- The Pacific Northwest, northern Rockies, Great Lakes and parts of the Ohio Valley and western Alaska have the greatest chances for wetter-than-average conditions.
- Drier-than-average conditions are favored in south-central Alaska, southern California, the Southwest, and the Southeast.
- The forecast for the remainder of the U.S. shows equal chances for below-, near- or above-average precipitation during winter months.
Infographic credit NOAA/NWS.
Temperature
- Warmer-than-average conditions are most likely across the Southern tier of the U.S. and much of the Eastern U.S. with the greatest likelihood of above-average temperatures in the Southeast.
- Below-average temperatures are favored for southeast Alaska and the Pacific Northwest eastward to the northern Plains.
- The Upper Mississippi Valley and small areas of the Great Lakes have equal chances for below-, near- or above-average temperatures.
Infographic credit NOAA/NWS.
Drought
- Widespread severe to exceptional drought continues to dominate the western half of the continental U.S., Northern Plains, and the Missouri River Basin.
- Drought conditions are forecast to persist and develop in the Southwest and Southern Plains.
- The Pacific Northwest, northern California, the upper Midwest, and Hawaii are most likely to experience drought improvement.
Infographic credit NOAA/NWS.
Additional detail, including an informational video, can be found here: https://www.noaa.gov/news-release/us-winter-outlook-drier-warmer-south-wetter-north-with-return-of-la-nina.
Comments