Weather Outlook for Next 2 Weeks

Early 2021 started off cold with some random and unexpected snowstorms throughout the country.

The Florida panhandle for example saw an 8-degree drop in average temperature earlier this month, but sadly, no snow was reported in the Sunshine state. Despite these below-average temperatures in the Southeast, no more cold snaps are expected around the country, nor are any heavy rainstorms, which isn't good news for the Southwest which is expecting exceptional drought conditions.

As for the outlook for the Southeast, The NOAA and National Weather Service Drought Outlook for the next few months shows a likelihood of a drought developing well into April. This includes South Alabama, South Georgia, and Florida.

USDA meteorologist, Brad Rippey, has the National Weather Service's outlook for the weather expected through the end of this month.

"In general, we're not expecting any significant cold outbreaks during the latter part of January into February. In fact, most of the nation's midsection, including the Plains and Midwest, expecting near or above normal temperatures. Maybe a bit colder along the East coast, some below normal temperatures expected there. Also in the far west, In California, below normal temperatures expected along the pacific coast. In terms of precipitation in late January, early February, most areas from the Rockies eastward, are expecting near or below-normal precipitation. But we do expect above precipitation for the pacific coast states, extending inland across the great basin towards the northern Rockies."