The National Weather Service’s (NWS) 90-day forecast for December through February gives elevated odds of above-normal temps and below-normal precip across major HRW production areas of the Southern Plains. Warmer-than-normal temps are expected to include Kansas southward and nearly the entire eastern half of the country. Below-normal precip is likely over nearly all of Texas, the western half of Oklahoma, southern Colorado and southwestern Kansas. NWS says Nebraska has “equal chances” for above-, below- and normal temps and precip during the next three months.
However, above-normal precip is expected across far northwestern HRW areas and white winter wheat producing states in the Pacific Northwest through February.
Given the extended forecast, the Climate Prediction Center calls for development or persistence of drought across much of HRW country through winter. Drought is expected to remain but improve over much of the PNW.