New spring 2026 forecasts warn of the dreaded 'heat dome'

Spring officially arrived Friday, March 20, and new forecasts say it's shaping up to be a warm few months for most Americans.

The news comes as much of the Western U.S. has already been enduring a summer preview from a huge, record-smashing heat dome across the region, which has sent tens of millions running for the air conditioner and the pool.

Meanwhile, drought conditions are forecast to worsen or develop for many areas in the West and south-central Plains, according to NOAA’s Spring Outlook released March 20 for April through June.

According to NOAA's Climate Prediction Center (CPC), the April-May-June 2026 temperature outlook favors above-normal seasonal temperatures for much of the contiguous United States, with the exception of parts of the northern Plains, upper Mississippi Valley, Great Lakes and Northeast.

"The highest probabilities (greater than 60 percent) of above-normal temperatures are forecast for areas of the central Great Basin and Rockies to parts of the Southwest," the CPC said in an online forecast.