Summer Forecast Update: Hotter-Than-Average Temperatures For Much Of US, But Northwest Is Most Anomalous

Summer Outlook: Where To Keep Cool In Extreme Heat

Much of the U.S. can expect a hotter-than-average summer, including from the Northeast to the Midwest, but the Northwest faces the most unusually hot temperatures, especially later in the season.

Temperature Highlights

Here's a look at key points and forecast maps for each month, according to an updated summer outlook released Thursday by The Weather Company and Atmospheric G2.

• Worst Heat: June kicks off summer with the hottest conditions compared to the average from the Central and Southern Plains into the Four Corners region, including Dallas and Denver. The core of the farthest above average heat is then expected to shift westward into the Northwest, Northern Rockies and Great Basin in July and August.
• Persistently Above Average: Much of the Midwest and Northeast are forecast to see at least a somewhat hotter-than-average summer through all three months, including from New York to Chicago and Minneapolis.
• Cool, But A Catch: The blue on the maps below shows slightly cooler-than-average conditions in parts of the Southeast and Gulf Coast by July and August, but that still comes with plenty of typical summertime humidity, so don't expect too much relief.
• Compared To Last Summer: The Southwest and East are not expected to be as hot as a year ago. On the opposite side of the spectrum, conditions in the Pacific Northwest and north-central states are forecast to be hotter than summer in 2024.

Rainfall Highlights

• Much of the East is favored to see at least somewhat above-average rainfall, which could help with the ongoing drought in parts of the region.
• An active monsoon could favor the Southwest also seeing a wetter-than-average summer.
• Portions of the Northern and Central Plains and Northern Rockies have the best odds of seeing a drier-than-average summer, so drought might persist or even worsen in portions of those regions.

(MORE: Under-The-Radar Weather Dangers In Spring, Summer)

Chris Dolce has been a senior digital meteorologist with weather.com for nearly 15 years after beginning his career with The Weather Channel in the early 2000s.