Dr. Dennis Todey, Director of the USDA Midwest Climate Hub, shared on a recent webinar sponsored by the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation that current weather patterns signal excessive summer heat ahead.

The outlook for July, August, and September is for above-average temperatures in virtually the entire country. Areas showing the greatest likelihood for above-average temperatures include the western third of the country, minus a band on the far west coast that includes most of California and the upper New England states.

The precipitation outlook is neutral, except for a two-to-three-states-deep region along the entire eastern seaboard, which models show having a likelihood of above-average precipitation.

Todey said there are strong signals that the U.S. is in a “rapid transition” between a strong “El Nino” weather pattern to an equally prominent “La Nina” pattern, That shift will likely occur sometime between June and August 2024.

Read more about the Summer 2024 weather forecast here.