July - September 2013

Outlook Graphic: GIF   PDF 

Latest Seasonal Assessment - During the previous thirty days, wet weather and cooler temperatures overspread the far north central United States and the central corn belt, easing drought conditions but also causing planting delays and flooding along the Mississippi River basin. In contrast, dry, hot weather exacerbated drought conditions in the southwestern quadrant of the Nation, promoting the development of numerous wildfires across the Four Corners states and California. In the East, a series of storm systems including Tropical Storm Andrea brought significant rainfall to the entire Atlantic seaboard, removing all remaining drought areas, though abnormal dryness was observed along the Ohio River Valley and central Appalachians. During the upcoming three months, enhanced odds of below average precipitation are expected to promote further drought expansion into the northwestern U.S., while drought persistence is likely across California and the northern intermountain West due to a dry summer climatology. In the Southwest, the potential for a robust and early onset of monsoon wetness may bring drought relief to Arizona, western New Mexico, and as far north as southern Utah and Nevada. In contrast, enhanced seasonal probabilities of abnormal dryness and warmth in western Texas are expected to promote drought persistence and expansion. A wet summer climatology may aid in further east to west erosion of drought across the Great Plains, but the prospects for relief are less certain along the High Plains, where extreme to exceptional drought has been entrenched for months and soil moisture is very low. Suppressed dry season rainfall in Hawaii is expected to favor drought persistence and possible expansion, while climatological summer precipitation in north central Alaska may improve existing drought conditions.

Although sea surface temperatures in the equatorial eastern Pacific have decreased slightly during late May and early June, we remain in ENSO Neutral conditions.

Across the West, cool, wet weather in parts of Washington and Oregon contrasted with hot, dry weather throughout California. Drought conditions have advanced northward into southern Oregon, which largely missed the recent precipitation, during the previous several weeks. The July to September period is a climatologically dry time of year for the West Coast states, with the seasonal signal becoming more pronounced in California. During the next 7 days, widepsread precipitation is expected to overspread the Northwest, but remain generally north of the existing drought areas. The CPC July outlook tilts the odds towards below median precipitation for Washington, and the seasonal forecast expands the enhanced probabilities of below median precipitation southward into Oregon and eastward into Montana. Based on climatology and the long range outlooks, drought persistence is expected across the western U.S., and additional northward development of drought is indicated for northern Oregon and southeastern Washington.
Forecast confidence for the west coast states is moderate to high.

During the previous 30 days, seasonable dryness and hot temperatures persisted across the southwestern U.S. As of June 19, numerous large wildfires were burning across the Four Corners states. Monsoon moisture typically begins streaming into the Southwest during July. There are several indications that the onset of monsoon moisture will be both early and robust. A coherent Madden Julian Oscillation pattern has developed in the tropics, and the active convective phase of this feature is expected to propagate eastward, reaching the eastern Pacific basin towards the beginning of July. Several models depict the possibility of tropical cyclogenesis in the eastern Pacific, and northwestward moving tropical cyclones would promote a northward flow of Gulf of California moisture into the Southwest. Additionally, week two guidance suggests the formation of a surface heat low near the border between California and Arizona, with high pressure situated to the east across Colorado and New Mexico. These features would also promote the northward advection of moisture into Arizona. Enhanced probabilities of above median precipitation are projected on the CPC week 2 and July monthly outlooks, with the highest probabilities in Arizona. Based on these considerations, drought improvement or removal is indicated across Arizona, western New Mexico, southern Utah, and southern Nevada. Persistence is maintained across eastern New Mexico and southern California.
Forecast confidence for the Southwest is low to moderate.

Abnormal dryness and heat were also observed across the west-central states during the previous 30 days, promoting drought persistence or expansion. A wildfire near the Black Forest north of Colorado Springs killed 2, burned nearly 15,000 acres and destroyed over 500 homes. Mostly dry weather is expected during the upcoming week as wet weather remains along the northern tier of the U.S. to the north of a ridge of high pressure. The CPC 8 to 14 day outlook indicates enhanced chances of above median precipitation for western Colorado, southwestern Wyoming, and Utah as a surge of monsoon moisture is likely to promote thunderstorm development. To the east of the Rockies, in contrast, abnormal dryness is more likely. The CPC monthly and seasonal outlooks both maintain equal chances of below, near, or above-median precipitation across the north-central Rockies, with enhanced odds of above median temperatures. Based on those outlooks, drought persistence is expected across the intermountain West outside of the core monsoon regions.
Forecast confidence for the intermountain West is moderate.

During the previous month, above average rainfall fell across the lower elevations of the Plains, including central Oklahoma, where severe storms spawned several deadly tornadoes near Oklahoma City and El Reno. The rainfall eased drought conditions, and even caused planting delays of corn and sorghum in the western Corn Belt. While thunderstorm activity over the southern and central high plains brought localized heavy rainfall, the area generally received below average rainfall during the past 30 days. The summer months are climatologically wet along the Plains, as Gulf moisture streaming northward collides with drier air to the west. Some showers and thunderstorms are possible during the upcoming week, though the heaviest rainfall is expected across the northern Plains and upper Mississippi Valley. The CPC 8 to 14 day outlook calls for enhanced chances of below median rainfall across the central Plains, while the monthly and seasonal outlooks maintain equal chances for the central Plains, but tilts the odds towards below median rainfall for western and central Texas. Based on the wet climatology, further east to west erosion of drought in the Plains is possible, but the extent of improvements along the high Plains is less certain, as large areas of extreme to exceptional drought would require above average rains for significant amelioration, and extremely low soil moisture levels will promote abnormal heat during the summer months. In western Texas, drought expansion is likely between the Pecos and Rio Grande Rivers consistent with the dry seasonal outlook.
Forecast confidence for the central U.S. is moderate.

Small areas of moderate to severe drought remain in parts of Minnesota, which missed areas of heavier rainfall to the west over the northern Plains and to the south over the central Corn Belt during the previous 30 days. An active weather pattern is expected to bring widespread rainfall to Minnesota during the next 7 days, with amounts ranging between 1 and 3 inches. The CPC 8 to 14 day outlook has enhanced chances of below median precipitation over southern Minnesota, however, there is little climate signal into the July to September period. The July to September period is a climatologically wet time of year for the upper Midwest, so further improvements beyond weeks 1 and 2 are likely. Based on the short term forecast and climatology, drought removal is forecast for Minnesota.
Forecast confidence for the upper Midwest is moderate to high.

A series of storm systems, most notably the remnants of Tropical Storm Andrea, brought widespread flooding rains to the eastern seaboard. In contrast, below average rainfall fell across the Ohio River Valley and central Appalachians. A very small area of moderate drought persisted near the intersection of Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Ohio. During the upcoming week, showers and thunderstorms are expected along the central Appalachians, with forecasted accumulations generally under an inch. Enhanced chances of above-median rainfall are predicted in the CPC 8 to 14 day outlook, and the July outlook tilts the odds towards wet weather across the southern Appalachians. Based on the relative shallowness of the remaining drought area and the wet short term forecast, drought removal is expected.
Forecast confidence for the central Appalachians is moderate.

The summer months are climatologically dry across Hawaii, and the CPC seasonal outlook tilts the odds towards below median rainfall during the July to September period. Based on this outlook and climatology, drought persistence is expected across the eastern islands, with further drought development possible in areas that are already abnormally dry.
Forecast confidence for Hawaii is high.

Moderate drought remains in north central Alaska, where snow water equivalents were well below normal during the spring. The summer months are the wettest time of year for north central Alaska. CPC's 8 to 14 day outlook calls for enhanced chances of below median precipitation for western and central Alaska, but the monthly and seasonal outlooks both maintain equal chances of below, near, or above median precipitation. Based on climatology, therefore, drought removal is forecast.
Forecast confidence for Alaska is moderate to high.