Spring Outlook: Dry in the West, Milder than Average in the South and East
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By noaa.gov.
Today, forecasters from NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center — part of the National Weather Service — issued the 2025 U.S. Spring Outlook for temperature, precipitation, drought and flooding for the coming months.
Forecasters predict above-average temperatures for the East and Gulf Coast regions, while drought conditions continue in the Southwest.
Experts at NOAA’s National Water Center predict that widespread major flooding is not expected this spring across the CONUS, and significantly reduced flood risk exists over much of the U.S., given above-average temperatures, combined with well-below-average snowpack over the Northern Plains, Midwest and Ohio Valley.
“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,” said Ken Graham, director of NOAA’s National Weather Service.
Spring Outlook for droughtoffsite link, temperature and precipitation
Moderate-to-exceptional drought conditions currently exist across more than 40% of the continental U.S. Drought conditions are likely to persist in the Southwest and parts of the Rocky Mountains, while drought improvement is forecast for the Great Lakes region. Drought development is likely across the central and southern Great Plains.
Much of the western U.S. is favored to receive below-average precipitation, with the greatest odds of below-average precipitation in the central and southern Rockies, including the Four Corners region. Precipitation is favored to be above-average in some areas of the Great Lakes and in northern and western Alaska.
Above-average temperatures are likely across much of the U.S., including locations that experienced colder-than-average temperatures and unusual snowfall during the winter.
For April through June, above-average temperatures are favored along the southern tier of the country and for the Eastern seaboard with the highest chances for central and south Florida, and an area stretching from the Texas and Louisiana coasts to southern Utah and eastern Nevada.
