The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released its winter outlook. For Texas, we are looking at near-normal temperatures and wetter-than-normal conditions. While there are some potential drought improvements, it is expected to hang around. Figure 1b below gives us a three-month precipitation outlook.
If you follow the Farmer’s Almanac, you will see that North Texas and the Panhandle region are expected to receive a cold and snowy winter while the rest of Texas is set for a mild and wet one.
While most of the state has received less than normal rainfall over the past 90 days, the amount of the state under drought conditions has decreased. According to the figure below, 89% of the state is abnormally dry or worse. These conditions may have decreased with the recent rains that have been received.
El Niño conditions continue with a return to neutral conditions toward the middle of next year. In the graph below, you can see that the projections are very similar to last months. There is however, a 100% chance of El Niño conditions extending through January.
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