On November 21st, NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center issued its seasonal outlook for December through February. Typically, the highlights for winter revolve around the temperature outlook, but this year it appears that persisting and potentially developing drought could be the bigger story. Without a strong influence from EL Niño or La Niña, the U.S. winter climate is less predictable. Based on recent trends, however, drought is likely to develop in the Southwest and Southeast over the 2013-14 winter.

The Precipitation Outlook favors:

• Below-average precipitation in the Southeast

The Temperature Outlook favors:

• Above-average temperatures in parts of the Southeast

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