Summer officially begins this Friday, and the upcoming months are expected to bring hotter-than-average conditions to parts of the west and north of the country.
In contrast, the south of the country may experience some relief from the heat due to wet conditions. The latest outlook from The Weather Company and Atmospheric G2 provides insight into what to expect in terms of temperatures and rainfall from July through September.
In terms of temperature, forecasters predict that the Northwest will experience the most significant and prolonged summer heat anomalies, while the Southeast is expected to have a relatively cooler season. The map shows that regions from Oregon to the Dakotas will experience temperatures well above average, while the upper Midwest, Great Lakes and Northeast will also see warmer conditions. Despite the Southeast and Gulf Coast potentially experiencing near or slightly below-average temperatures, high humidity levels could still make it feel sticky.
The Northeast is forecast to have above-average temperatures overall, although there may be fluctuations due to cooler temperatures occasionally brought by Canadian air masses. In terms of rainfall, further precipitation is expected in the South and East on top of already wet conditions, with near or slightly above-average rainfall forecast from the Gulf Coast to southern New England. The Southwest may experience an active monsoon season, with Arizona likely to see near- to above-average rainfall.
Conversely, the Upper Midwest, Northern Plains and Northern Rockies are at risk of below-average rainfall, which could exacerbate existing dry or drought conditions in these regions. Overall, the outlook points to a summer characterised by variable temperatures and localised rainfall patterns across different regions.
