
A new long-range forecast, released on Thursday by the NOOA outlines weather predictions for February, March, and April across the country. For roughly half of the U.S., it looks like spring-like conditions will arrive early.
California and the rest of the Southwest are expected to face dry conditions this spring, which could worsen the already concerning drought in Southern California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. Meanwhile, the Pacific Northwest, Great Lakes region, parts of the Midwest, and Northeast are likely to experience more rain than usual.
Across the rest of the U.S., from Arizona to Maine, above-average temperatures are predicted for the next three months, with the southern states most likely to see unseasonably warm weather, according to the Climate Prediction Center.
In contrast, a few northern states (Washington, Oregon, Idaho, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, and Nebraska) are forecasted to have a chillier start to spring.