From October 2017 to September 2018, the Southwestern U.S. experienced below-normal to record-low precipitation. Long-term precipitation deficits and record-high temperatures have contributed to very low streamflows and reservoir levels. Conditions favor the development of El Niño this winter, but significant drought is expected to persist in most of Utah and Colorado.
WATER YEAR (OCTOBER 2017-SEPTEMBER 2018)
Provides a definition of El Nino; the outlook for winter temperatures and precipitation; potential winter and spring impacts; and a look back at previous El Nino winters.
NOAA’s Regional Climate Services Program created these Outlooks to inform the public about climate impacts within their respective regions. Each regional report contains easy-to-understand language, and anyone can access them through the Drought Portal at https://www.drought.gov/drought/resources/reports.
Provides a definition of El Nino; the outlook for winter temperatures and precipitation; potential winter impacts; and a look back at previous El Nino winters.
NOAA’s Regional Climate Services Program created these Outlooks to inform the public about climate impacts within their respective regions. Each regional report contains easy-to-understand language, and anyone can access them through the Drought Portal at https://www.drought.gov/drought/resources/reports.
Provides a definition of El Nino; the outlook for winter temperatures and precipitation; potential winter impacts; and a look back at previous El Nino winters.
NOAA’s Regional Climate Services Program created these Outlooks to inform the public about climate impacts within their respective regions. Each regional report contains easy-to-understand language, and anyone can access them through the Drought Portal at https://www.drought.gov/drought/resources/reports.
Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook for Alaska and Northwestern Canada for June – August 2018; outlook for October – December 2018. Dated September 2018.
Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook for the Southeast Region for June – August 2018. Dated September 2018.
Above-average temperatures were recorded over most of the Southeast. Mean temperatures were in the top five warmest at 27 long-term stations. Maximum temperatures were generally near normal, but minimum temperatures were 1-4 F above normal due to high humidity and cloud cover. Precipitation values ranged from 50% of normal in South Carolina to over 200% of normal in northern Virginia. Several long-term stations observed their wettest summer on record.
Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook for the Great Lakes Region for June – August 2018. Dated September 2018.
Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook for the Northeast Region for June – August 2018. Dated September 2018.
It was the sixth warmest summer for the Northeast and the record warmest for Rhode Island. Summer precipitation was 122% of normal for the region and was the wettest on record for Pennsylvania.
Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook for the Western Region for June – August 2018. Dated September 2018.
Summer temperatures were near normal across the Inland Northwest and above normal elsewhere in the region, especially in the Southwest. Monsoon precipitation was variable throughout the season, though many Southwest locations ended up with near to slightly above normal precipitation.
Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook for the Missouri River Basin June – August 2018. Dated September 2018.
Summer began extremely warm but ended with cooler temperatures across much of the Basin. Colorado had its 3rd warmest summer on record. Several areas of the Basin had a wet summer. For instance, portions of southeastern South Dakota and northeastern Nebraska had one of their wettest summers on record. However, drought was an issue for some areas, impacting crops and water supplies in Colorado, the Dakotas, Kansas, and Missouri.