DOI: 10.3886/e233266v1
title: Climate.gov Data Snapshots: Temperature - Monthly Outlook

description: <b>Q: What are the chances for various temperature conditions next month?
</b><b>
 </b><br><b>A:</b> Shaded
 areas show where average temperature has an increased chance of being 
warmer or cooler than usual. The darker the shading, the greater the 
chance for the indicated condition. White areas have equal chances for 
average temperatures that are below, near, or above the long-term 
average for the month.

 
 <br><b>Q: What data do experts use to develop these forecasts?
</b><b>
 </b><br><b>A:</b> Climate
 scientists base future climate outlooks on current patterns in the 
ocean and atmosphere. They examine projections from climate and weather 
models and consider recent trends. They also check historical records to
 see what temperature conditions resulted from similar patterns in the 
past.

 
 <br><b>Q: What do the colors mean?</b><b>
 </b><br><b>A:</b> Colors
 on the map show experts’ level of confidence in their forecasts for 
above- or below-average temperatures. Each location on the map has some 
chance to experience average temperatures that rank in the bottom, 
middle, or top of records from the previous three decades. White areas 
have equal chances for all three conditions. Colors show where the odds 
for one of the conditions are higher than for the other two.<br>
<br>
A common mistake is to interpret these maps as predicted temperatures. 
However, dark orange or red areas are not predicted to be warmer than 
light orange areas. The darker orange areas simply have a higher 
likelihood for above-average temperatures than the lighter orange areas 
do. Similarly, dark blue areas are not predicted to be cooler than light
 blue areas. Keep in mind that outlooks show the most likely condition 
for each region, not the only possible outcome.

You can visit the Data Snapshots interface to view previous temperature outlooks and compare them to monthly temperature observations.

 
 <br><b>Q: Why do these data matter?</b><b>
 </b><br><b>A:</b> Energy
 companies want to know how much energy people will need in the next 
month. Temperature outlooks can inform them when they should prepare to 
meet high demand for energy. Outlooks can also help them choose the best
 time to schedule maintenance procedures. Forestry managers also check 
temperature outlooks. When they see increased chances for 
warmer-than-usual weather, they prepare for more wildfires. Managers in 
agricultural industries also want to know if temperatures are likely to 
be warmer or cooler than usual. This information can help them optimize 
food production.

 
 <br><b>Q: How did you produce these snapshots?</b><b>
 </b><br><b>A:</b> Data
 Snapshots are derivatives of existing data products: to meet the needs 
of a broad audience, we present the source data in a simplified visual 
style. NOAA's Climate Prediction Center (CPC) produces the source images
 for monthly temperature outlooks. To produce our images, we run a set 
of scripts that access mapping layers from CPC, re-project them into 
desired projections at various sizes, and output them with a custom 
color bar.<br>

 
 
 <b>Additional information</b>
 CPC issues 
monthly outlooks one-half month before the beginning of the month of 
interest. On the day before the new month begins, experts update the 
outlook for the upcoming month. Each monthly outlook in Data Snapshots 
shows the date the outlook was issued.

Outlooks that include Alaska are available: while displaying an 
outlook of interest, click the Download button, select Full Resolution 
Assets, and then click OK

 
 <br><b>References</b>
 
 One-Month to Three-Month Climate Outlooks.<br>
http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/forecasts/

Current Outlook Discussion<br>
http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/predictions/long_range/fxus07.html
 
 
 
 <br>Source: https://www.climate.gov/maps-data/data-snapshots/data-source/temperature-monthly-outlook
 




<br>This upload includes two additional files:<br>* Temperature - Monthly Outlook _NOAA Climate.gov.pdf is a screenshot of the main Climate.gov site for these snapshots (https://www.climate.gov/maps-data/data-snapshots/data-source/temperature-monthly-outlook)<br>* Cimate_gov_ Data Snapshots.pdf is a screenshot of the data download page for the full-resolution files. <br><br>
description: Data is divided in to folders by image resolution -- full size (zip), small (png) and large (png). Occasionally there may be one image missing in a particular size but available in another size.<br><br>Data downloaded from climate.gov 6/17/2025.