Currently, NOAA/CPC identifies major drought areas across the southeast quadrant of the U.S., developing across the West U.S., and Baltic Region in Europe (Fig. 1). A major drought across Brazil is eroding to summertime rains. Southern Europe to the Iran Conflict region shifted wetter during the first third of 2026. Indonesia to Central Australia shifted wetter although “sneaky” drought developed in East Australia.

The Climate Impact Company U.S. population weight CDD forecast for the 2026 warm season (Fig. 1) averages near or slightly below normal. The MAY/JUN (national) forecast is warm, near the 10-year normal, but lacking extreme heat as observed during MAY/JUN 2024 and JUN 2025. The JUL 2026 forecast is slightly below the 10-year normal and similar with the past 2 mid-summer(s). The AUG/SEP 2026 forecast is similar with 2024 and much warmer than last AUG. The hot bias for the warm season 2026 is in the West with marginal warmth in the high population East Coast.

The latest Canadian Meteorological Center (CMC) temperature and precipitation probabilistic 90-day outlook valid for MAY/JUN/JUL 2026 across Canada yields country-wide warmer than normal temperature with dryness favored across Southern Canada with a wet risk across Northern Canada.

During the past week, wet weather was observed in California to the Great Basin, Interior Northwest, and Midwest U.S. The GFS precipitation forecasts for this period are notably too wet in Southwest Canada (where no rain or snow occurred) and the Mid-south to Midwest and Northeast States. The ECM ENS verification has a larger area of wet bias including the Southeast States and Great Plains.