Temperatures this summer will be similar to last year, with above-normal temperatures likely from West Texas across the Great Plains into the central and southern Rockies, and across the Mid-South, according to the WeatherBug meteorologists at Earth Networks.

The WeatherBug forecast also calls for near-normal seasonal temperatures around the Great Lakes and the Southeast coast, with the coastal areas of Oregon and western Washington the only part of the country expected to average cooler than normal. Boston and coastal New England have somewhat increased chances for above-normal temperatures, according to WeatherBug.

“Last year, the mercury soared, making 2012 the third hottest summer on record in the continental U.S.,” said senior meteorologist James Aman. “After examining all available data, we expect to see a summer that is somewhat similar to 2012.

“But one of the biggest stories weather-wise we will be watching is the drought across Texas into the Southern Rockies. When you factor in extreme weather, including severe storms with lightning and tornadoes that are already making their appearance across the country, we will likely be in for an interesting season.”

The WeatherBug forecast follows Weather Services International’s (WSI) recent forecast for last spring and early summer, which called for a considerable warm-up in the Northeast and intermountain West (see NGI, April 1).

WSI said it expects temperatures this month to average warmer than normal in the Northeast and Southwest; slightly warmer than normal in the Southeast and South Central; slightly cooler than normal in the North-Central; and cooler than normal in the Northwest. By June, WSI expects slightly-warmer-than-normal temperatures to dominate all of the East and warmer-than-normal weather to have a firm hold on the West and South-Central areas, with cooler-than-normal temperatures to be in place over the North-Central region.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) recently said it expects that most of the continental United States and northern Alaska will average warmer than normal this spring, while below-normal temperatures are expected for the Pacific Northwest and extreme northern Great Plains. Spring promises little drought relief for Texas, the Southwest, the Great Plains or Florida, NOAA said.

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