Keep updated on the latest weather trends and outlooks with your personal daily weather planner—delivered each day via email. To subscribe to this free service, click here.

Livestock Wx for Dec. 14, 2018:  Temps & precipitation – what to expect 

During our time writing the weekly weather article for the Cattle Raisers, we have periodically showed you forecasts from the North American Multi-Model Ensemble (NMME). The NMME is a monthly and seasonal (three month) climate model that can provide a clue into long-range temperature and precipitation anomalies. NOAA issued an update to the model this week on what might be ahead for the core winter months. So far, this winter has been cold and wet for most of the area. The exception has been the last of moisture in Oklahoma and the northern part of the Panhandle. The below forecasts, therefore, might be good news for some of you.

Temperature Outlook

The models are hinting at a mild winter over the western U.S. and perhaps more typical winter temperatures over the central, eastern and South-Central U.S.

Orange = Above normal temperatures forecast

Precipitation Outlook

The forecasts for precipitation are not showing a strong signal for dry weather other than the Pacific Northwest. There is, however, a suggestion for above-normal precipitation over the Southwest, including Oklahoma and the Panhandle in March. That could be good news, BUT, we are a long way out from March and that is an awful long way for a forecast. We will keep monitoring things and bring you latest every week.

Brown = Less precipitation than normal

Green = More precipitation than normal