Chandler France
There’s a 40-50% chance temperatures will be warmer than normal across the state.
John Fedele/Getty ImagesParts of West Texas are expected to be drier than normal in March, while statewide temperatures will most likely be warmer than normal, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s monthly report. The report is not a forecast of absolute weather, but rather a probability of whether monthly conditions will be higher or lower than historical averages.
The report predicts higher-than-average temperatures across the southeastern U.S., while the West and Northwest are anticipated to be cooler than average. The majority of Texas has a 40-50% chance of being warmer than normal, according to the report.
The March 2022 climate outlook from @NWSCPC favors a wetter-than-average month for the Midwest/Great Lakes, a warmer-than-average month for the eastern/south-central US, and a cooler-than-average month for the western/north-central US.https://t.co/EWWRuP1MVb pic.twitter.com/XtcBP3yMaP
— NOAA Climate.gov (@NOAAClimate) March 2, 2022
There’s a 50-60% probability parts of West Texas will be drier than normal, the report shows. Moving eastward toward central Texas, the probability drops, with parts of the state anticipated to have about the same amount of precipitation as previous years.
Parts of Northeast Texas are anticipated to be wetter than normal, as well.
Drought conditions are continuing to develop and worsen across the U.S, the report shows. More than 57% of the country is experiencing some level of drought, the highest percentage since 2013, according to the report.
Drought conditions throughout Texas are expected to continue or worsen, with areas of Central and Southeast Texas expected to begin developing a drought.
“For the next month, drought improvement is unlikely across much of the West and southern United States as the wet season comes closer to the end along the West Coast, and the climate outlook favors a drier-than-average month across the southern tier,” the report said. “As a result, drought development is likely across Arizona, southern New Mexico, Texas, and Florida.”