Prognostic Discussion for Long-Lead Seasonal Outlooks 
NWS Climate Prediction Center College Park MD 
830 AM EDT Thu Jun 19 2025 
 
SUMMARY OF THE OUTLOOK FOR NON-TECHNICAL USERS 
 
El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO)-neutral conditions continue with sea 
surface temperatures (SSTs) near average over most of the equatorial Pacific 
Ocean. ENSO-neutral is likely to persist through September (near 70% chance). 
By the late fall and early winter (November-December-January, NDJ 2025-26), 
ENSO-neutral is favored but confidence is lower with a 48% chance of 
ENSO-Neutral and a 41% chance of La Niña. 
 
The July-August-September (JAS) Temperature Outlook favors above-normal 
temperatures throughout the lower 48 states with the highest forecast 
confidence across the Great Basin and New England. The JAS outlook only 
slightly leans towards above-normal temperatures for much of the Great Plains 
and Mississippi Valley. Above-normal temperatures are also favored for eastern 
and southern Alaska. 
 
The JAS Precipitation Outlook depicts elevated above-normal precipitation 
probabilities for the Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, and Upper Ohio Valley. 
Below-normal precipitation is more likely across the Northern to Central Great 
Plains, Northern Rockies, and Pacific Northwest. Above-normal precipitation is 
favored for central and western Alaska. 
 
Areas depicted in white and labeled “Equal-Chances” or “EC” are regions where 
climate signals  are weak, and so there are equal chances for either above-, 
near- or below-normal seasonal mean temperatures or total precipitation amounts. 
 
BASIS AND SUMMARY OF THE CURRENT LONG-LEAD OUTLOOKS 
Note: For Graphical Displays of the Forecast Tools Discussed Below See: 
http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/predictions/90day/tools/briefing 
 
CURRENT ATMOSPHERIC AND OCEANIC CONDITIONS 
 
Weekly observed SSTs in the Niño 3.4 region are average with small positive SST 
anomalies closer to the South American coast. Since late April, subsurface 
temperature anomalies (averaged from 180-100W and 0-300 meters) are slightly 
above-average. From May 20, 2025 to June 14, 2025, negative outgoing longwave 
radiation (OLR) anomalies (enhanced convection and precipitation) continued 
over Indonesia and northern Australia.  Near average OLR anomalies were present 
throughout the rest of the equatorial Pacific. Both the low-level (850-hPa) and 
upper-level (200-hPa) wind anomalies were near average across the central 
equatorial Pacific. These atmospheric and oceanic conditions reflect 
ENSO-neutral conditions. 
 
The Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO) has generally remained weak and incoherent 
during the late spring as other modes of tropical variability (fast-moving 
Kelvin waves and equatorial Rossby waves) dominate. The GEFS and ECMWF models 
favor a continued weak MJO heading into July with fast-moving Kelvin waves the 
primary influence on anomalous tropical rainfall and tropical cyclone 
development. 
 
PROGNOSTIC DISCUSSION OF SST FORECASTS 
 
The CPC SST consolidation forecast for Niño 3.4 depicts ENSO-neutral conditions 
persisting through August-September-October (ASO) as SST anomalies remain 
between 0 and -0.5 degrees C. Later in the fall and heading into the early 
winter, dynamical models  and statistical tools diverge on the ENSO state. In 
addition, ensemble spread among the NMME members becomes large at the same 
time. Most of the International Multimodel Ensemble (C3S) members favor 
ENSO-neutral conditions persisting through the fall. The CPC ENSO outlook 
indicates that ENSO-neutral is likely during JAS (near 70 percent chance) but 
those probabilities decline closer to 50 percent by the fall season. During the 
2025-2026 winter (DJF), either ENSO-neutral or La Niña is the most likely 
outcome. 
 
PROGNOSTIC TOOLS USED FOR U.S. TEMPERATURE AND PRECIPITATION OUTLOOKS 
 
The Temperature and Precipitation Outlooks for JAS 2025 were based on dynamical 
models such as the North American Multi-Model Ensemble (NMME) and the 
Copernicus (C3S) multi-model ensemble system. A Calibration, Bridging, and 
Merging (CBaM) version of the NMME was also used in the outlooks. An objective, 
historical skill-weighted consolidation that includes the NMME along with 
statistical tools such as the SST-based Constructed Analog and the ENSO-OCN was 
used through November-December-January (NDJ) 2025-2026. Beyond that time, the 
consolidation only includes statistical tools. Long-term climate trends  were 
considered for all leads, but were relied upon most during the 2026 spring and 
summer. 
 
PROGNOSTIC DISCUSSION OF OUTLOOKS - JAS 2025 TO JAS 2026 
 
TEMPERATURE 
 
The highest forecast confidence for above-normal temperatures (probabilities 
more than 60 percent) during JAS 2025 is across the Great Basin and New England 
where there is excellent agreement and consistency among the dynamical models . 
Although above-normal temperatures are favored throughout the lower 48 states, 
probabilities are limited (less than a 40 percent chance) across most of the 
central contiguous U.S. (CONUS). The smaller above-normal temperature 
probabilities for the Lower Mississippi Valley and Tennessee Valley are 
consistent with high soil moisture and favored wetness during this three-month 
period. Above-normal temperatures are most likely across eastern and southern 
Alaska, while the NMME and nearby negative SST anomalies result in equal 
chances of below, near, or above-normal temperatures for northwestern Alaska. 
 
Compared to the previous month, the NMME depicts lower above-normal temperature 
probabilities for the northwestern and north-central CONUS from the late summer 
through the fall. Beginning in August-September-October, EC of below, near, or 
above-normal temperatures are forecast for parts of the north-central CONUS and 
the coverage of EC expands in spatial coverage through the fall. Since 
ENSO-neutral or La Niña is favored during the late fall and 2025-2026 winter, 
the temperature outlook generally followed those temperature composites along 
with the consolidation. Elevated below-normal temperature probabilities are 
forecast for the northwestern CONUS beginning in December-January-February 
2025-2026 through February-March-April 2026. Following this, long-term trends  
became the major factor in the temperature outlook during the 2026 spring and 
summer. 
 
PRECIPITATION 
 
During JAS 2025, below-normal precipitation remains the most likely outcome for 
the Pacific Northwest, Northern Rockies, Northern to Central Great Plains, and 
parts of the Upper Mississippi Valley. The NMME has maintained this dry signal 
dating back to February. In addition to the good model consistency, the C3S, 
CBaM, and consolidation support an increased chance of below-normal 
precipitation for those areas. One notable change in the NMME from one month 
ago is the lack of a dry signal across the Southern Great Plains. The JAS 
outlook now calls for EC of below, near, or above-normal precipitation from 
southern Kansas southward through Oklahoma and much of Texas. Although 
above-normal precipitation was favored across the Southwest during JAS in 
previous outlooks, EC of below, near, or above-normal precipitation are now 
forecast for this region since the July outlook has EC and there is no 
dynamical model support for leaning towards the wet side. Based on the NMME, 
C3S, and consolidation, above-normal precipitation is most likely across the 
Mid-Atlantic and Southeast. Compared to the JAS outlook released in May, the 
elevated above-normal precipitation probabilities were expanded west to include 
the Upper Ohio Valley and Tennessee Valley due to changes in the dynamical 
model output. The NMME and C3S support an increased chance of above-normal 
precipitation across the western two-thirds of Alaska for JAS. 
 
Similar to JAS, the dry signal among the dynamical models  diminished in 
coverage throughout the central CONUS for August-September-October (ASO) and 
only a slight lean towards below-normal precipitation (33 to 40 percent chance) 
is forecast across the Northern to Central Great Plains and Upper Mississippi 
Valley. A slight lean towards above-normal precipitation was maintained for 
parts of the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast during ASO and 
September-October-November (SON) which is consistent with an increased chance 
of an above-normal Atlantic hurricane season. Also, there is a wet signal in 
the NMME and C3S during ASO. Since the SST-based Constructed Analog loses the 
wet signal across the Southwest during ASO and there is no dynamical model 
support for favoring above-normal precipitation, EC of below, near, or 
above-normal precipitation are forecast for the Southwest. During 
November-December-January (NDJ) and December-January-February (DJF) 2025-2026, 
below-normal precipitation probabilities were slightly increased across the 
Southeast since the chances for El Niño developing by next winter are only at 
near 10 percent. EC is forecast for a majority of the forecast domain during 
the 2026 spring and summer except for an increased chance of below-normal 
precipitation for parts of the northwestern and north-central CONUS. 
 
FORECASTER: Brad Pugh 
 
The Climatic normals are based on conditions between 1991 and 2020, following 
the World Meterological Organization convention of using the most recent 3 
complete decades as the climatic reference period.  The probability anomalies 
for temperature and precipitation based on these new normals better represent 
shorter term climatic anomalies than the forecasts based on older normals. 
 
For a description of of the standard forecast tools - their skill- and the 
forecast format please see our web page at 
http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/predictions/long_range/tools.html 
(Use Lower Cas e Letters) 
Information on the formation of skill of the CAS forecasts may be found at: 
http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/Soilmst_Monitoring/US/Outlook/outlook.shtm 
l 
(use lowercase letters) 
Notes - These climate outlooks are intended for use prior to the start of their 
valid period.  Within any given valid period observations and short and medium 
range forecasts should be consulted. 
 
This set of outlooks will be superseded by the issuance of the new set next 
month on Jul 17 2025 
 
 
1991-2020 base period means were implemented effective with the May 20, 2021 
forecast release. 
$$