Heavy Snow in the Central/Southern Rockies; Below Average Temperatures in the Central and Eastern US

Moderate to heavy snowfall is expected in the central/southern Rockies and adjacent High Plains today. Lake-enhanced snowfall is expected downwind of the Great Lakes today. Showers and thunderstorms will be possible this evening into tonight across the western Gulf Coast states. Temperatures across much of the central and eastern CONUS will remain below average and chilly to end the week. Read More >

It was a very dry July across the Northland. Nearly every place observed below normal rainfall, and in many cases several inches below normal with totals only 25% to 50% of normal! It should come as no surprise that drought conditions have worsened regionwide, with widespread moderate to severe drought and a few pockets of extreme drought. Temperatures were generally a degree or two below average for the month. There were some hot days mixed with average and below average temperature days.

The CPC outlooks for August and the next three months do not suggest a clear trend for temperatures or rainfall. There are equal chances for above, below, or around normal temperatures and precipitation. With that, drought conditions are expected to persist into the foreseeable future even if rainfall trend towards average.