Long Range Weather Forecast Discussion March 19-Apr. 2
1340 PM EDT Mon. Mar. 16, 2026
Mar. 29-23: The flow will remain amplified, consisting of a ridge in the Southwest and a trough in the East.
An anomalous upper ridge across the Southwest will cause summer-like heat with possible record highs in the West. The trough in the East will continue to cause unsettled conditions. A low will affect the Great Lakes and the Northeast by the weekend. The Northwest will experience an atmospheric river event.
Mar. 24-28: The pattern flattens before the next trough moves into the East.
TEMPERATURES
Yellow-2-4°F Above
Orange-4-6°F Above
Red-6-8°F
or Greater Above
Light Blue 2-4F Below
Medium Blue-4-6F Below
Dark Blue-6-8F or Great Below
Above-normal temperatures are forecast for the West, eastward into the Great Lakes region, the Midwest to the Gulf Coast. Anomalies could be as high as 10°F or more in some locations of the West.
PRECIPITATION
Yellow 35%Below
Brown-35-45% Below
Dark Brown-45-55% Below
Light Green-30-35% Above
Medium Green-35-45% Above
Dark Green-45-55%Above
Below normal precipitation is forecast for California eastward across the middle and lower Mississippi Valley, most of the Midwest, the Southeast, the Mid-Atlantic, and the Northeast. The probability of occurrence is 40 percent.
Mar. 29-Apr. 2: The trough lifts out of the Northeast as a trough in the West pushes a ridge eastward.
TEMPERATURES
Yellow-2-4°F Above
Orange-4-6°F Above
Red-6-8°F
or Greater Above
Light Blue 2-4F Below
Medium Blue-4-6F Below
Dark Blue-6-8F or Great Below
Little change is expected in the temperature anomaly forecast from the previous period.
PRECIPITATION
Yellow 35%Below
Brown-35-45% Below
Dark Brown-45-55% Below
Light Green-30-35% Above
Medium Green-35-45% Above
Dark Green-45-55%Above