The latest outlook for January 2018 shows that colder than normal conditions have a somewhat increased chance of occurrence this month, especially in the northern edges of the region. Precipitation likelihood ranges across the region, with southern areas most likely to see the dry conditions expected from La Niña. The monthly forecasts are tilted towards what happen in the first two weeks, since that is when the forecast skill is the highest. The current Arctic outbreak is expected to last for at least the next few days, but the longer range forecasts indicate a swing back to more moderate temperatures after that.
