Outlook for March – Cold in Illinois

The NWS Climate Prediction Center released today their outlook for March and beyond. There is still a 50-60 percent chance of El Niño showing up in the next few months but likely to be both weak and short-lived. I do not think it will be a major player in 2015.

MARCH:

First of all for March, Illinois and the Great Lakes region have an increased chance of below-average temperatures. That is no real surprise given the cold weather of recent weeks and expected below-average temperatures in the 14 day outlooks. We have equal chances (EC) of above, below, and near-average precipitation. Click to enlarge maps.

off14_tempoff14_prcpAPRIL-MAY-JUNE

After an expected colder than average March, we see a reverse pattern in Illinois and the Great Lakes region with an increased chance of above-average temperatures.

off02_tempoff02_prcp

JULY-AUGUST-SEPTEMBER

There is not much to report for the heart of this summer in Illinois. We have EC for both temperature and precipitation.

off05_tempoff05_prcp