Water deficits are forecast in the US Northwest and eastward through the Great Lakes region for the 12-month period ending June 2016. California may transition to moderate surpluses. Surpluses are also forecast in the Central and Southern Plains and in Virginia. Moderate to exceptional deficits are expected in southern Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi, with both deficits and surpluses emerging in central Louisiana.
United States: Numerous regionally significant water anomalies ahead
Water deficits may dominate the northern US from the Pacific Northwest eastward through Minnesota in the coming months, with surpluses in the Upper Mississippi. The forecast for California indicates a transition from deficits to surpluses by February. Surpluses may persist in the Central and Southern Plains and along Mississippi River tributaries. Extensive deficits are forecast March through May from the central Gulf Coast region northward through the Great Lakes region.
United States: Water deficits may persist in the Northwest, surpluses in Texas
- Drought is forecast to persist in northern California, though some areas may have both water deficits and surpluses;
- Exceptional drought may persist in the Pacific Northwest;
- Severe water deficits are forecast for Minnesota;
- Exceptional water surpluses are forecast for much of Texas, and along the Red River, the Arkansas River, the Rio Grande River, and in western Nebraska; surpluses are also forecast in the surrounding states of Oklahoma, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona;
- A wide belt of moderate to exceptional surpluses is expected from the Central Plains eastward;
- Southeast states are forecast to have characteristics of both water deficits and surpluses.
United States: Water Forecast Indicates Deficits in the Northwest, Surpluses in the Central Plains
- Exceptional drought will persist in northern California through the Pacific Northwest;
- Southern California is forecast to have characteristics of both water deficits and surpluses;
- Exceptional water surpluses are forecast for portions of Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado, New Mexico, and Louisiana;
- A wide belt of moderate to exceptional surpluses is expected from the Central Plains eastward; and,
- Southeast states are forecast to have characteristics of both water deficits and surpluses.
United States: Regionally Significant Water Anomalies Forecast in Coming Months
The continental United States is forecast to experience regionally significant water anomalies through February 2016, both deficits and surpluses:
- Exceptional drought is forecast to persist in northern California through the Pacific Northwest;
- Southern California is forecast to have characteristics of both water deficits and surpluses;
- Exceptional water surpluses are forecast for portions of Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado, New Mexico, and Louisiana; and,
- Severe to extreme deficits are forecast for portions of the Northeast.