Forecasters offer limited outlook for South Dakota spring
Christopher Doering
WASHINGTON – The federal government on Thursday offered a mixed spring outlook for South Dakota, predicating warmer-than-normal temperatures in the northern half of the state while providing little insight into precipitation across much of the area during the next three months.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicted an equal chance of above-average, average or below-average rainfall. Jon Gottschalck with NOAA's Climate Prediction Center said the odds favor normal or below-normal precipitation.
The exception is the far eastern part of South Dakota, where precipitation is forecast to be below normal.
Currently, 9 percent of the state is experiencing a moderate drought, nearly double from a week earlier. Much of the remainder of the state is considered abnormally dry, according to the government.
Forecasters also said the northern half of the state could see above-normal temperatures this spring with equal chances of above-average, average or below-average temperatures in the lower portion.
"As far as temperatures goes, because of the low snowpack and the likelihood of dry conditions that we are favoring moving forward, there is a slight tilt toward above-average temperatures, mainly above the northern part of the state," Gottschalck said.
The government's outlook for spring covers April through June.
Across the rest of the country, the government predicted temperatures will be above normal in the West and stretching east through the northern Rockies and northern Plains. Widespread drought conditions are expected to persist in California for the fourth consecutive year, forecasters said. Below-normal temperatures are most likely for Texas and nearby areas of New Mexico, Colorado, Kansas, and Oklahoma.
NOAA also forecast above-normal precipitation east of Nevada and moving south into Texas, stretching into nearly all of the southeastern U.S. The far northwest, as well as Minnesota and Wisconsin, are expected to see below-normal rainfall.
Forecasters were equally uncertain about precipitation and temperatures throughout much of the rest of the country.