Summer Outlook: Is hot weather on tap?

Summer: According to Caleb Weatherbee and the 2008 Farmers’ Almanac, a warmer-than-normal summer will be the norm across much of the nation. Precipitation will average near or somewhat below normal, except over much of the central U.S. where higher than normal rainfall will occur.

Parts of the Midwest and the Mid-Atlantic in particular will see occasional bouts of very heavy rainfall, from heavy showery rains and locally strong thunderstorms. Heavier than normal rainfall may also fall over some of the Plains and Rockies. In contrast, much lower than normal precipitation is predicted along the Pacific Coast.

(Check out Canada's summer forecast here.)

Farmers' Almanac expects an active tropical season in 2008, with the Gulf Coast directly in the crosshairs for hurricanes in mid-July, mid-August, and mid-September. The associated tropical moisture from such systems is likely to flow northward, creating threat of excessive rainfall over many eastern locations. The traditional peak of the hurricane season occurs
on September 10.

Hurricane season officially starts June 1.

2008 Hurricane Names:
Arthur
Bertha
Cristobal
Dolly
Edouard
Fay
Gustav
Hanna
Ike
Josephine
Kyle
Laura
Marco
Nana
Omar
Paloma
Rene
Sally
Teddy
Vicky
Wilfred