Forecast models feature “broad scale warmth” for the western half of the U.S., and it’s fueling increasing expectations for a mild spring season for much of the U.S. There will be regions like the eastern Corn Belt that could see spring planting delays because of increased precipitation chances. The long-term outlook shows warmer-than-normal conditions in the Plains and Pacific Northwest through much of the summer, and if that reaches fruition, the Southwest could see a more active weather system, while the mid-South and Southeast will likely see more than normal precipitation based on current signals for the long-term forecast. The drought conditions that currently grip 60% of the contiguous U.S. will remain a major factor — especially in the western half of the country — through summer. See more from the latest long-term forecast.