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.

Polar vortex expert Amy Butler and Arctic expert James Overland offer perspectives on the February cold snap in the southern U.S., the polar vortex, and how the Arctic might influence mid-latitude weather.

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%.