A carpet of colorful (mostly yellow and orange) wildflowers in California with red-toned mountains in the distance. Wildflowers bloom at Carrizo Plain National Monument on March 12, 2026, in Santa Margarita, California. California’s deserts and hills are seeing a colorful wildflower bloom this spring after a wet winter. (Image credit: Getty Images)

Spring Outlook: Drought Forecasted to Expand in U.S. West, Parts of Plains

4/11/2026 - By noaa.gov, noaa.gov. Drought conditions are forecast to worsen or develop for many areas in the West and south-central Plains, according to NOAA’s Spring Outlook released today for April through June. Forecasters from NOAA’s National Weather Service also predict above-normal temperatures for the majority of the U.S. “Factors influencing NOAA’s Spring Outlook include… SEE MORE
Image Credits: ncei.noaa.gov.

May Brought Storms and Heavy Rain from the South to the Northeast; Spring was the Second Warmest on Record

6/13/2025 - By ncei.noaa.gov. Key Points: Thirteen states experienced one of their five wettest Mays on record, while dry conditions persisted across much of the Northwest. Two significant severe weather outbreaks on May 15–16 and May 18–20 resulted in over 200 tornado reports, very large hail and damaging winds. Alaska had its… SEE MORE
Hurricane satellite image, taken Oct 9, 2024 Photo by NOAA

NOAA Predicts Above-Normal 2025 Atlantic Hurricane Season

5/30/2025 - May 22, 2025 — NOAA, National Weather Service Forecasters within NOAA’s National Weather Service predict above-normal hurricane activity in the Atlantic basin this year. Above-average Atlantic Ocean temperatures set the stage.  NOAA’s outlook for the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season, which goes from June 1 to November 30, predicts a 30%… SEE MORE
Image Credits: research.noaa.gov.

New Hazardous Weather Warning System Proves its Mettle During March 2025 Tornado Outbreaks

5/3/2025 - By research.noaa.gov. From March 13 to March 16, 2025, a historic and deadly tornado outbreak swept across the central United States, unleashing severe weather from the Gulf Coast to central Illinois. The storm system produced more than 115 confirmed tornadoes, and resulted in $6.25 billion in damage and 23 fatalities,… SEE MORE
Lassen National Volcanic Park, Warner Valley, California, May 2012. (Image credit: John Cloud/NOAA)

Spring Outlook: Dry in the West, Milder than Average in the South and East

3/22/2025 - By noaa.gov. Drought to develop or persist for Rocky Mountains, Southwest and southern Plains 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… SEE MORE
Image Credits: The Pacific Palisades Fire near Malibu, California, which started on January 7, 2025. Adobe stock photo.

The Weather and Climate Influences on the January 2025 Fires Around Los Angeles

2/22/2025 - By Rebecca Lindsey. Highlights A trifecta of fire-friendly climate conditions set the stage for the January 2025 fires: back-to-back wet winters that boosted vegetation, a record-dry fall, and an extremely strong Santa Ana wind event. By one estimate, record-low fall precipitation had a bigger influence on the exceptionally low vegetation… SEE MORE
Image Credits: GetArchive.

‘Life-Threatening Cold’ Expected as Polar Vortex Stretches Across U.S. After Deadly Weekend Flooding

2/16/2025 - By apnews.com. Harsh weather moved west on Monday as a polar vortex was expected to grip the Rockies and the northern Plains after winter storms pummeled the eastern U.S. over the weekend, killing at least 10 people, including nine victims in Kentucky who died during flooding from heavy rains. The National Weather Service warned… SEE MORE