The April 2021 climate outlook tilts warmer than average for most of the country and drier than average across the southern tier of the United States.
Tom Di Liberto
A warmer-than-average start to spring is favored for the central and eastern United States while a drier-than-average March is likely across the southern tier of the contiguous U.S.
The February 2021 outlook favors a colder- and wetter-than-average month for much of the northern and central United States.
Despite the influence of La Niña, December 2020 was the eighth-hottest December on record helping 2020 become the second-hottest year on record.
January 2021 is favored to be wetter and warmer than average for much of the country.
November 2020 was the second-warmest November on record, which increases 2020's chance of becoming the warmest year on record to over 50%.
August sea surface temperatures in the Arctic are rising by as much as 1 degree Celsius (1.8 degrees Fahrenheit) per decade.
The taiga is becoming more flammable, increasing the risk for intense wildfires—some so intense they overwinter in deep ash pits and re-emerge the following spring.
December 2020 and the start of the 2020-2021 winter looks warmer and drier than average for much of the country.