A newly released climate outlook for January through March 2025 suggests a weak La Nina will lead to above-normal precipitation and above to near-normal temperatures in the central region of the U.S.

The National Weather Service said a weak La Niña phase means that other shorter-term and less predictable patterns will influence the forecast at times.

Though La Niña could bring cold air intrusions, their overall influence on temperatures remains uncertain, the weather service agency added.

Below-normal temperatures are slightly favored over the Northern Plains and portions of the Upper Midwest, the NWS said, while chances of warmer-than-normal conditions increase over the Ohio Valley and southwest Colorado.

Above-normal precipitation is strongly favored in the Ohio Valley and portions of the Northern Plains, while odds favor below-normal precipitation over southwest Kansas and parts of Colorado, the NWS said.

Drought is anticipated to persist over most of the Northern Plains, the Missouri River basin, and portions of the Upper Midwest. However, a lean towards wetter-than-average conditions across the Great Lakes Region and Upper Ohio Valley may result in some improvement or removal of drought conditions there.

Some drought relief is also likely along the Wyoming-Montana state line.