Summary:
- Warmer than average January in much of the PNW and into the central valley of California while most other areas in the west were near average to colder than average.
- The first half of January saw the train of moisture continue into the western US, bringing record-breaking precipitation to much of California, the Great Basin, and Rockies, but unfortunately, flooding and extreme snowfall amounts were experienced by many. While California was wet, much of the PNW was drier than average.
- The February forecast is hinting at a continued dry down for California and wet in the PNW. Temperatures are likely to be cooler than average north and closer to average south.
- Drought conditions have improved, but have not gone away. Snowpacks are up to 200% above average and reservoirs are close to full for this time of year, but without more inputs through spring, drought conditions will return. The forecast has northern California into the PNW expected to improve into spring, while large areas of the Great Basin and Plains are likely to stay locked into drought into spring and early summer.
- Even with the major bust in the La Niña weather forecast for portions of December and January, forecasts are still anticipating conditions to flip back to cool and wet in the PNW and average to cool and dry south into California and the southwest for the rest of the winter and early spring. The CPC is also expecting La Niña conditions in the Tropical Pacific to give way to neutral conditions in spring with some hints at El Niño in late summer or fall, while the PDO is expected to remain in a strong negative phase with cold near-shore SSTs along the western coast of North America.
