Tools used in the U.S. Drought Outlook (USDO) included the official CPC temperature and precipitation outlooks for June 2013 (released May 16), the long lead forecast for June to August 2013 (released May 16), various short- and medium-range forecasts and models such as the 5-day HPC precipitation totals, 6-10 day and 8-14 day forecasts, the NAEFS precipitation outlooks, the soil moisture tools based on the Constructed Analog on Soil (CAS) moisture, dynamical models (CFSv2, NMME, and IMME), the 384-hour total precipitation forecasts from several runs of the GFS, the four-month Palmer drought termination and amelioration probabilities, climatology, and initial conditions. We are currently in ENSO Neutral conditions as of this forecast release date.

During the previous two weeks, widespread heavy rain (3 to 6 inches, locally to 12 inches) fell on much of the central Gulf and southern Atlantic Coast areas northward into the central Appalachians, with 2 to 8 times the normal precipitation occurring in southern sections of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama, and throughout most of Florida, Georgia, western Carolinas, western Virginia, and Maryland. The rains greatly increased stream flows and brought drought relief in much of the region. During the next week, light to moderate rains are expected to fall on the remaining small D1 areas, with high odds for above median precipitation in New England for days 6-10 and 8-14. The June and JJA precipitation outlooks have equal chances for the Atlantic Coast, but some of the latest runs of the CFSv2 and NMME climate models indicate positive precipitation anomalies for the southeastern U.S. through August. With a trend for wetness in the Southeast since February, the Atlantic and Caribbean hurricane season normally commencing soon, and the peak rainy season for Florida from late spring through early fall, the small pockets of drought along the East Coast are likely to vanish by the end of August.
Forecast confidence for the Atlantic Coast (Florida to New England) is moderate to high.

A deep winter and early spring snowpack, along with ideal conditions for slow melting (subnormal temperatures), plus above normal precipitation during 2013, has allowed for excellent infiltration of moisture into the top and sub soils of most Midwestern locations. In fact, too much rainfall has led to flooding and saturated soils in parts of the upper and middle Mississippi Valleys. During the past two weeks, surplus precipitation (including heavy snows) fell on eastern Nebraska, Iowa, southeastern Minnesota, Wisconsin, UP of Michigan, Illinois, and eastern Missouri, but it was relatively dry in Indiana, Ohio, lower Michigan, and most of Minnesota. Heavy precipitation is expected across the upper Midwest and Ohio Valley during the next 5-days, with good odds for above median precipitation during days 6-10 and week 2 in the Great Lakes region. The CPC June and JJA precipitation outlooks have equal chances in the Midwest, although some June dynamical models hint at positive precipitation anomalies here. Based on a persistently wet trend this year, along with short and medium-term guidance of surplus precipitation, further improvement or some improvement is expected.
Forecast confidence for the Midwest is moderate to high.

The northern Plains (eastern Montana and North Dakota) received above normal precipitation late in 2012, but has since received subnormal 2013 amounts. In contrast, the opposite has occurred in the remainder of the region (South Dakota, Nebraska, and Kansas) where late 2012 was very dry, but near to above normal precipitation has fallen during 2013. Climatologically, the northern and central Plains precipitation rapidly increases in the early spring (April) and peaks in the early summer before rapidly decreasing by the fall. As a result, this is a critical time for the Plains to receive significant amounts in order to diminish the large deficits (5 to 15 inches) accumulated last year. Fortunately, the HPC 5-day precipitation calls for widespread, moderate to heavy rains (1 to 2.5 inches) in the northern half of the Plains and upper Midwest. Likewise, the CPC 6-10 day outlook tilts the odds towards above median precipitation across the northern third of the Plains. The CPC June and JJA outlooks, however, forecast enhanced odds of below median precipitation and above median temperatures for the central High Plains while keeping the northern third of the Plains at equal chances. Based on the favorable odds of above normal precipitation in the short term and a normally wet summer climatology - but only equal chances for June and JJA (with drier and warmer odds further south), last year’s large deficits still affecting the subsoil moisture and hydrology, and increasing summer temperatures and evaporative rates, only some spotty improvement is expected in the northern half of the Plains.
Forecast confidence for the northern half of the Plains is moderate.

During the first five months of 2013, surplus precipitation and subnormal temperatures have brought drought improvement or alleviation to parts of eastern Kansas, eastern Oklahoma, and northeastern Texas. Just to the west, however, much drier weather this year has maintained or worsened D3 and D4 conditions in western sections of Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas. Similar to the climatology of the northern Plains, the southern Plains also receives the bulk of their annual precipitation during the summer months, although the rains normally start later and linger into the early fall months (e.g. New Mexico’s wettest 3-months are JAS). After experiencing the 9th and 14th driest JAS on record the past two years, New Mexico needs a wet JAS. Therefore, this starts a crucial period for badly-needed rains in the southern Plains and the southwestern summer monsoon. Unfortunately, the short, medium, and long-term forecasts are not favorable for drought improvement, especially in western sections. Light to moderate rains are forecast for eastern portions (Great Plains) of Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas during the next 5 days, but little or no rains are expected in the southern High Plains. The CPC 6-10 and 8-14 day outlooks tilt the odds in favor of below median precipitation, while the CPC June and JJA outlooks both indicate enhanced chances of below median precipitation for the southern High Plains. Furthermore, monthly and seasonal temperatures strongly tilt toward above normal values. Accordingly, with most indicators and tools pointing toward below median precipitation and above median temperatures at all time periods, particularly in western regions, drought is expected to persist or develop in the few areas not yet in drought. The exception to this is improvement or some improvement in far eastern sections of Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas where favorable 2013 weather has already brought some drought relief.
Forecast confidence for the southern half of the Plains is moderate.

In the West, after a great start to the 2012-13 Water Year (a very wet November and December), near-record and record dryness enveloped the region during January-April. As a result, the memory of the wet start to the Water Year faded away, gradually replaced by impacts from the 2013 dryness. In addition, the start of the normally dry summer and fall months has commenced, making it highly unlikely that any substantial precipitation will occur during the next several months. Not surprisingly, the HPC 5-day, CPC 6-10 and 8-14 day, June and JJA outlooks all predict equal chances (arid climatology) or enhanced chances of below median precipitation for California and the Southwest. For the southwest summer monsoon, the tools were not in full consensus in western areas (e.g. southeastern California, Arizona, southern Nevada, Utah), hence equal chances. In the eastern areas (e.g. New Mexico, west Texas, southeastern Colorado), however, the CPC June and JJA outlooks both indicate enhanced chances of below median precipitation and above median temperatures for the southern High Plains. Based on ongoing impacts from the record dry January-April, normally dry summer climatology, and monthly and seasonal outlooks, drought persistence is expected in much of the West, with development possible in the Northwest (e.g. Oregon, Idaho, western Wyoming, southwestern Montana). Development was limited to current areas categorized as D0 (abnormally dry) in the most recent U.S. Drought Monitor.
Forecast confidence for the West is high, moderate in the Southwest.

An increase in the intensity and coverage of April showers across Kauai and Oahu, and recent rains on the windward side of Molokai brought improvement of drought conditions. Drought was erased from Kauai and Oahu, but unfortunately April and early May rains were less widespread and lighter farther south. With the CPC June and JJA outlooks for Hawaii both tilting the odds toward below median precipitation, the rainy season nearing an end, and a dry late spring on the southern islands, the drought outlook was fairly straightforward. Accordingly, persistence is forecast for the leeward sides of the central and southern islands, with development on the windward sides.
Forecast confidence for Hawaii is moderate to high.

Low snowpack and snow water content (about 75 percent of normal on May 1) for the Koyukuk Basin of north-central Alaska maintained D1 conditions as of the May 7 U.S. Drought Monitor. The CPC June and JJA outlooks have no tilt for precipitation (equal chances) here, but the basin may benefit from late spring snowfall and the resulting summer melt. In addition, the summer months are normally the wettest time of the year in north-central Alaska, so the climatology is favorable for producing decent rain totals. Therefore, some improvement may be expected by the end of August.
Forecast confidence for Alaska is moderate.

Forecaster: D. Miskus