Meteorologists warn of more heat in autumn

If you're not quite ready to let go of summer, which officially ends on Sunday, you may be in luck: The U.S. weather forecast for the months of October through December shows that 46 of the 50 states are likely to experience above-average temperatures, meteorologists at the Climate Prediction Center announced Thursday.

AccuWeather meteorologists also agree with the fiery fall forecast: “For millions of Americans, fall will feel more like an extended summer this year,” said Paul Pastelok, AccuWeather's senior long-term forecaster. “In much of the country, temperatures will not drop until late this year after a summer of extreme heat.”

The areas most likely to see warmer-than-average temperatures include eastern New England, southern Florida and much of the Southwest, according to the Climate Prediction Center. That includes the Phoenix area, which is still recovering from the record-breaking 113 consecutive 100-degree days it experienced this summer.

In total, parts of 46 states are in the “above-average temperature zone,” including parts of Alaska and Hawaii. The only states that are not expected to see above-average temperatures this fall are Washington, North Dakota, Minnesota and Wisconsin. In these states, the chances of above-average and below-average temperatures are equal, meteorologists said.

What about rain and snow?

The Climate Prediction Center said a wet autumn is expected in the Northeast, the Great Lakes and the Northwest. The center only stated that above-average precipitation is expected, but did not say whether it will be rain or snow.

Fall is expected to be drier than average in the Southwest and southern Plains, likely exacerbating drought conditions in those regions, the Climate Prediction Center said.

Hello La Niña?

Meteorologists also said La Niña is expected to form later in the fall. The climate pattern – characterized by a natural cooling of ocean waters in the tropical Pacific – is one of the main factors influencing weather in the United States, especially in late fall, winter and early spring. It is the opposite of the more well-known El Niño.

During a La Niña winter, the south of the country typically experiences dry, warm conditions, while the north tends to be wet.

According to CPC:

∎ There is a 71% chance that La Niña will occur between September, October and November. ∎ La Niña is expected to last until January-March 2025, but a strong event is unlikely. ∎ “Neutral” conditions are favored by spring.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fall 2024 forecast predicts heat across most of U.S.