NOAA and its partners have released the latest Regional Climate Impacts and Outlooks, which recap spring conditions and provide insight into what to expect this summer.
Spring Temperature Recap
With a record-warm May more than balancing out a cold April, the contiguous United States just experienced a warmer-than-average spring. Above-average temperatures were observed across parts of New England and from the West Coast to the Southern Plains. Four states in the Southwest and Southern Plains had one of their 10 warmest springs on record.
Summer Temperature Outlook
Through August, odds favor above-normal temperatures over much of the contiguous United States, the exception being in the vicinity of the Central and Northern Plains and the Midwest, where equal chances of below, near, and above normal temperatures are favored. Portions of the Southwest have a 60 percent chance of above-normal summer temperatures. Likewise, above-normal temperatures are favored in Alaska, with the lowest probabilities over the central mainland.
Spring Precipitation Recap
The overall spring precipitation was near average, but it masked regional extremes across the contiguous United States. Above-average spring precipitation was observed across parts of the West and along parts of the East Coast. Below-average precipitation was observed for most of the central U.S., Southwest, and parts of the Northeast. Arizona and New Mexico each had their 10th driest spring on record.
Spring Precipitation Outlook
The summer outlook favors above-normal precipitation over much of the eastern Lower 48 and most of mainland Alaska. Above normal rainfall is also favored over parts of the Central and Southern Rockies while below normal precipitation is favored for parts of the Northwest.
Impacts and Outlooks for Your Region
Get more details for your region in the March 2018 climate impacts and outlooks summaries:
- Alaska and Northwestern Canada Region
- Northeast Region
- Great Lakes Region
- Gulf of Maine Region
- Midwest Region
- Missouri River Basin Region
- Pacific Region
- Southeast Region
- Southern Region
- Western Region
Creating These Quarterly Summaries
NOAA’s Regional Climate Services lead the production of these quarterly summaries of climate impacts and outlooks for various regions of the United States as well as parts of Canada along the border. This effort, which began in 2012, now includes as many as 10 unique regional products, all produced collaboratively with partner organizations.
You can access all of the Climate Impacts and Outlooks summaries as well as additional reports and assessments through the U.S. Drought Portal Reports web page at Drought.gov.
