(Photo provided by the NWS)

The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a United States Winter Weather Outlook for the upcoming winter season. Though many have worried that last year’s extreme cold and snowy winter would make a return this season, the National Weather Service reports this is unlikely.

“Last year’s winter was exceptionally cold and snowy across most of the United States, east of the Rockies,” states the NWS in the WInter Weather Outlook. “A repeat of this extreme pattern is unlikely this year, although the Outlook does favor below-average temperatures in the south-central and southeastern states.”

Indiana is among the midwestern states that falls under the “equal chance” category for temperatures. According to the NWS this means that there is currently not strong enough climate signals for these areas to make a prediction so the have an equal chance for above or below normal temperatures. However, the NWS predicts a 33 percent probability of drier weather throughout the state.

(Photo provided by the National Weather Service)

As for the rest of the country, the NWS reports that the Temperature Outlook favors warmer-than-average temperatures in the Western United States, extending from the west coast through most of the “inter-mountain west” and across the U.S.-Canadian border through New York and New England, as well as Alaska and Hawaii.

Below average temperatures are favored in parts of the south-central and southeastern United States, while above-average temperatures are most likely in the western U.S., Alaska, Hawaii and New England, according to the U.S. Winter Outlook.

Though the NWS reports that drought may improve in some portions of the United States this winter, California’s record-setting drought is expected to persist or intensify in large parts of the state. The Sunshine State has already suffered exceptional drought throughout 60 percent of the state according to the NWS.

“Winter is the wet season in California, so mountainous snowfall will prove crucial for drought recovery. Drought is expected to improve in California’s southern and northwestern regions, but improvement is not expected until December or January,” states the NWS.