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Weekly Look Ahead

May 1, 2025 (Updated Every Thursday)

1–5 Day

During May 1–5, 2025, heavy rain (2 to locally 5 inches) is forecast for central and northeastern Texas, northern Louisiana, and southern Arkansas. Moderate to locally heavy totals (1 to 2.5 inches) are expected over much of Mississippi and Alabama, the central and southern Appalachians, the middle and upper Ohio Valley, Pennsylvania and adjacent New York and New Jersey, and a small portion of the central Great Lakes. Light to moderate totals are expected across the remainder of the eastern U.S., and several tenths to an inch are forecast from the central and southern Plains westward through much of the Rockies, Nevada, and most of California, with locally higher amounts in some higher elevations of the Sierra Nevada and Great Basin. Little or no precipitation is forecast across the northern tier from the upper Mississippi Valley westward to the Pacific Coast and in parts of the Southwest. Warmer-than-normal weather is expected from the western Great Lakes through the northern Rockies and Intermountain West. Meanwhile, cooler-than-normal conditions are anticipated from central and southern California through the Great Basin, southern Rockies, and central and western Texas.

6–10 Day

The National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center’s 6–10 day outlook (valid May 6–10, 2025) favors below-normal precipitation across the Great Lakes, middle and upper Mississippi Valley, Ohio Valley, interior Southeast, Mid-Atlantic, lower Northeast, and western New England. In contrast, enhanced chances for wetter-than-normal conditions cover Florida and the immediate southern Atlantic Coast, Gulf Coast, lower Mississippi Valley, central and southern Plains and Rockies, most of the Great Basin, Southwest, southeastern portions of Alaska, and Hawaii. 

Higher-than-normal temperatures are favored across roughly the northern two-thirds of the Lower 48. Enhanced chances for warmer-than-normal weather also extend across Hawaii, especially central and western parts of the island chain. Increased odds for below-normal temperatures cover Florida, central and western Texas, the central and southern Four Corners region, and southeastern Alaska. Chances for significantly cooler-than-normal conditions exceed 50% across central and southern New Mexico.

 

This weekly look ahead is modified from the U.S. Drought Monitor's National Drought Summary for April 29, 2025, written by Richard Tinker (NOAA's Climate Prediction Center) and Lindsay Johnson (National Drought Mitigation Center).

Featured Outlooks & Forecasts

Predicting drought depends on the ability to forecast precipitation and temperature within the context of complex climate interactions. Many different datasets and maps are available that predict how precipitation and temperature may change in the future.

Official NOAA Drought Outlooks

Drought Is Predicted To...
Drought Is Predicted To...
2-4 Week Hazard Outlook

Official NOAA Precipitation Forecast

Predicted Inches of Precipitation
1.75
Predicted Inches of Precipitation
1.75

Official NOAA Precipitation Outlooks

Probability of Below-Normal Precipitation
100%
Probability of Above-Normal Precipitation
100%
Probability of Below-Normal Precipitation
100%
Probability of Above-Normal Precipitation
100%
Probability of Below-Normal Precipitation
100%
Probability of Above-Normal Precipitation
100%
Probability of Near-Normal Precipitation
50%
Probability of Below-Normal Precipitation
100%
Probability of Above-Normal Precipitation
100%
Probability of Near-Normal Precipitation
50%

Official NOAA Temperature Outlooks

Probability of Below-Normal Temperatures
100%
Probability of Above-Normal Temperatures
100%
Probability of Below-Normal Temperatures
100%
Probability of Above-Normal Temperatures
100%
Probability of Below-Normal Temperatures
100%
Probability of Above-Normal Temperatures
100%
Probability of Near-Normal Temperatures
50%
Probability of Below-Normal Temperatures
100%
Probability of Above-Normal Temperatures
100%
Probability of Near-Normal Temperatures
50%

Challenges with Predicting Drought

Pressure Systems

High pressure systems, which hinder cloud formation and lead to low relative humidity and precipitation, can cause drought. When large-scale anomalies in atmospheric circulation patterns last for months or seasons, prolonged drought occurs (NDMC).

Temperate Zone Forecast Reliability

In temperate regions (above 30 north latitude), long-range forecasts have limited reliability. Due to differences in observed conditions and statistical models, reliable forecasts for temperate regions may not be attainable for a season or more in advance (NDMC).

Interconnected Variables

Anomalies in precipitation and temperature may last from several months to several decades, and how long they last can depend on air–sea interactions, soil moisture, land surface processes, topography, and weather systems at the global scale (NDMC).

ENSO and Global Weather Patterns

Teleconnections, such as ENSO and La Niña events, are atmospheric interactions between widely separated regions. Understanding these teleconnections can help in forecasting droughts, floods, tropical storms, and hurricanes (NDMC).