NOAA's Climate Predicition Center has issued its three-month precipitation outlook for the nation, and it shows continuing dry weather for Southern Maryland and the Delmarva Peninsula (brown and tan on the map at left). Both regions were hit hard by drought this summer.
Western Maryland is still suffering from moderate to severe drought. The three-month outlook suggest more nearly average rainfall ahead for that part of the state. Some improvement in drought conditions is expected in parts of the region, but it will persist in others, forecasters said.
By far the most striking thing on the new precipitation map for November, December and January is a broad swath of below-average precipitation expected from southern Louisiana, across northern Florida, southern Georgia and coastal South Carolina. Its part of an even wider region of dry weather forecast for the Southeastern United States that reaches into southern Maryland.
The Drought Outlook map (right)shows persisting or developing drought across most of the Deep South through January.
All of this is expected as a consequence of a strengthening La Nina event in the Pacific Ocean. So are predictions of above-average precipitation for the northwestern states, and the Ohio Valley. The rest of the country shows no strong trends on precipitation either way.