Looking at August-September-October, it will be warmer than normal in portions of the West and Southwest, as well as southern Florida. California, however, will be cooler than normal, as will the Central states.

By September-October-November, cool temperatures will extend along the western coastline from southern California to Washington. A cooler-than-normal area is also indicated for upper New England.

The warm region will be reduced to most of Arizona and portions of California, Nevada, and New Mexico, with southern Florida remaining warm.

The October-November-December outlook shows very little activity. Cooler-than-normal temperatures will prevail along the coast of southern and central California. Southern Florida will continue to be warmer than normal.

Rainfall

The precipitation map for August-September-October indicates below-normal rainfall for Arizona and portions of California, Nevada, Utah, and New Mexico.

Essentially the same dry area carries over into September-October-November. A wetter-than-normal region is indicated over Arkansas, Louisiana, easternmost Texas, Tennessee, Mississippi, and Alabama.

For October-November-December, the same basic dry area as the previous two periods will still linger. Dry conditions will also be seen in Florida and along the coastal area of Georgia and the Carolinas.

Wetter-than-normal conditions will appear in the Northwest extending across to the upper peninsula of Michigan.

A wet area will also cover Arkansas, Louisiana, eastern Texas, eastern Oklahoma, southeast Kansas, southern Missouri, the western tip of Tennessee, and western Mississippi.

Note that once you are within the time period of an outlook, short- and medium-range forecasts and climate observations should be considered.