NOAA's new astronomical spring weather outlook paints a familiar tune
Forecasters from NOAA's Climate Prediction Center have released their best predictions for what the climate will look like during astronomical spring, which runs through June 20.
The key takeaways from the outlook are largely unsurprising: above-average temperatures are expected across much of the country, with ongoing drought conditions in the Southwest.
Due to the warmth and dryness, a large portion of the U.S. is also expected to experience a reduced risk of widespread flooding along major rivers.
"The Spring Outlook provides critical information for our partners — including those in agriculture, shipping, and recreation — allowing them to prepare for what's ahead this spring and maximize their economic potential," Ken Graham, director of NOAA's National Weather Service, said in a statement.
The areas most likely to see increased precipitation are confined to the Great Lakes and the Pacific Northwest.
Due to the increased cloud cover associated with rainy weather, these regions are also expected to have the best chances of experiencing average or even below-average temperatures.
When Will The Cherry Blossoms Peak In Washington This Spring?
NOAA forecasters do not expect La Niña or El Niño to play a significant role in weather patterns this spring, meaning localized weather patterns will have a more substantial impact than any nationwide climate event.
The neutral status of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation, or what is sometimes referred to as "La Nada," is characterized by water temperature anomalies in the eastern and central Pacific that fall between 0.5°C and -0.5°C.
ENSO-neutral conditions are not typically associated with an active spring severe weather season, although air temperatures are generally warmer across the nation as a whole.
NOAA reports that moderate-to-exceptional drought conditions currently affect about 40% of the continental U.S., exacerbated by a lack of significant snowfall during the previous winter.
Many northern regions experienced double-digit snowfall deficits, as winter storm systems lacked the moisture needed to provide communities with the snow they rely on for a significant portion of their annual precipitation.
Further south, areas such as the Southwest, Florida and the Southeast are expected to remain at heightened fire danger until significant precipitation arrives - which likely won't happen until after the start of meteorological summer.
Is There A Weather Phenomenon Known As The Atlantic Nina?
Meteorological summer begins on June 1 and runs through August, while astronomical summer will begin with the summer solstice on Friday, June 20, at 10:41 p.m., and lasts through the fall equinox on September 22, 2025.
Meteorological seasons are based on calendar months, as it provides a more straightforward way for forecasters to compare weather patterns.
Astronomical seasons, however, are based on the position of Earth and the Sun and do not account for meteorological patterns.Original article source: NOAA's new astronomical spring weather outlook paints a familiar tune
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Alaska's first-ever Heat Advisory issued as Fairbanks sees temps soar
FAIRBANKS, Alaska – For the first time, the National Weather Service office in Fairbanks, Alaska, has issued a Heat Advisory, marking a significant shift in how Alaskans are alerted to unusually warm conditions. Until recently, Fairbanks and other Alaskan forecast offices didn't have the ability to issue such advisories, instead relying on Special Weather Statements to alert the public about sudden heat. That changed on June 2, when adjusted procedures granted Alaskan offices the authority to use the Heat advisory product, aligning them more closely with practices used across the Lower 48. The criteria for when an alert is issued vary across the Last Frontier, with some areas along the North Slope needing only to reach 75 degrees, while Fairbanks' threshold is a warmer 85 degrees. The NWS office in Fairbanks anticipates several upcoming days will hit at least 85 degrees, so a Heat Advisory will go into effect for the city's more than 30,000 residents. How The Weather You're Accustomed To Affects National Weather Service Heat Warnings, Advisories An observed temperature of 85 degrees is 15-20 degrees above average for mid-June, but it's still well below the all-time record of 96 degrees, set in 1969. While the temps may seem modest compared to those seen during heat waves in the Lower 48, locals said the alert reflects the region's unique vulnerabilities in coping with unusual warmth. For example, the Haas Energy Institute at the University of California, Berkeley, estimates that about 7% of households across the state have sufficient air conditioning. The lack of A/C, combined with actions like closing blinds and curtains to block over 20 hours of sunlight during meteorological summer, can interfere with a building's natural ventilation and cause indoor temperatures to climb to uncomfortable levels. Additionally, with more than 50 million acres of wilderness protected by various conservation groups, the state offers endless outdoor activities, and many Alaskans spend a large portion of their day outside. So, when temperatures reach the mid-80s, it can place stress on a population more accustomed to the 60s and 70s this time of year. Us Coast Guard Unveils First Polar Icebreaker In More Than 25 Years For now, Alaskan NWS offices still won't issue what are known as Heat Watches or Heat Warnings, which are reserved for more extreme heat impacts typically seen in the Lower 48. Forecasters said cities such as Anchorage and Juneau will rarely meet the criteria for a Heat Advisory, since the cooling influence of the North Pacific Ocean plays a major role in moderating temperatures. However, Fairbanks is farther inland and well removed from ocean influence, making it more vulnerable to heat waves, dry spells and wildfires, which can also affect air quality. On average, the city's warmest high temperature reaches about 74 degrees during early July before starting its daily plunge and reaching the lower 60s by the time summer article source: Alaska's first-ever Heat Advisory issued as Fairbanks sees temps soar
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
The National Weather Service issues Alaska's first ever heat advisory
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — For the first time ever, parts of Alaska will be under a heat advisory — but you can put an asterisk at the end of that term. It's not the first instance of unusually high temperatures in what many consider the nation's coldest state, but the National Weather Service only recently allowed for heat advisories to be issued there. Information on similarly warm weather conditions previously came in the form of 'special weather statements." Using the heat advisory label could help people better understand the weather's severity and potential danger, something a nondescript 'special weather statement' didn't convey. The first advisory is for Sunday in Fairbanks, where temperatures are expected to top 85 degrees Fahrenheit (29 degrees Celsius). Fairbanks has has been warmer in the past, but this is unusual for June, officials said. Here's what to know about Alaska's inaugural heat advisory: Why it's the first The National Weather Service's switch from special weather statements to advisories was meant to change how the public views the information. 'This is an important statement, and the public needs to know that there will be increasing temperatures, and they could be dangerous because Alaska is not used to high temperatures like these,' said Alekya Srinivasan, a Fairbanks-based meteorologist. 'We want to make sure that we have the correct wording and the correct communication when we're telling people that it will be really hot this weekend,' she said. Not unprecedented and not climate change The change doesn't reflect unprecedented temperatures, with Fairbanks having reached 90 degrees twice in 2024, Srinivasan said. It's purely an administrative change by the weather service. 'It's not that the heat in the interior that prompted Fairbanks to issue this is record heat or anything like that. It's just now there's a product to issue,' said Rich Thoman, a climate specialist at the Alaska Center for Climate Assessment and Policy. Thoman also clarified that the term swap doesn't have anything to do with climate change. 'I think some of it is related to the recognition that hot weather does have an impact on Alaska, and in the interior especially," Thoman said. Little air conditioning While the temperatures in the forecast wouldn't be considered extreme in other U.S. states, Thoman noted that most Alaska buildings don't have air conditioning. 'And just the opposite, most buildings in Alaska are designed to retain heat for most of the year," he said. People can open their windows to allow cooler air in during early morning hours — if wildfires aren't burning in blaze-prone state. But if it's smoky and the windows have to remain shut, buildings can heat up very rapidly. 'Last year was the third year in a row in Fairbanks with more than a hundred hours of visibility-reducing smoke, the first time we've ever had three consecutive years over a hundred hours,' he said. There's only been two summers in Fairbanks in the 21st century with no hours of smoke that reduced visibility, a situation he said was commonplace from the 1950s to the 1970s. What about Anchorage? The Juneau and Fairbanks weather service offices have been allowed to issue heat advisories beginning this summer, but not the office in the state's largest city of Anchorage — at least not yet. And, regardless, temperatures in the area haven't reached the threshold this year at which a heat advisory would be issued. Brian Brettschneider, a climate scientist with the weather service, said by email that the Anchorage office is working on a plan to issue such advisories in the future.
Washington Post
an hour ago
- Washington Post
The National Weather Service issues Alaska's first ever heat advisory
ANCHORAGE, Alaska — For the first time ever, parts of Alaska will be under a heat advisory — but you can put an asterisk at the end of that term. It's not the first instance of unusually high temperatures in what many consider the nation's coldest state, but the National Weather Service only recently allowed for heat advisories to be issued there. Information on similarly warm weather conditions previously came in the form of 'special weather statements.'
