NOAA just released their official outlook for the month of March in the USA.  They continue to follow an El Nino influenced pattern of above average precipitation in the southern half of the USA and above average temperatures in the northern half of the USA.

As of right now the places with the most snowfall this season in North America are all on the West Coast:

1. Alyeska, AK = 563″
2. Mt. Baker, WA = 413″ (as of Feb. 10th)
3. Timberline Lodge, OR = 383″
4. Crystal Mountain, WA = 384″
5. Sugar Bowl, CA = 380″

This March Outlook Looks Good for:

• CA, NV, CO, AZ, NM, and AK.  The only issue is going to be snow levels in the coastal states of CA and AK, but that isn’t abnormal, especially as we move into spring.
  

This March Outlook Looks Bad for:

• WA, OR, MT, ID, and WY where below average precipitation is forecast along with above average temperatures.  That said, Baker in WA continues to get dumped on and has the 2nd most snow in North America, and they just got 8″ of snow overnight…  East Coast ski country has above average temps forecast along with equal chances for precipitation for most ski areas.

Above Average Precipitation is Forecast in March for:

• California
• Nevada
• Colorado
• Arizona
• New Mexico
• Alaska

Below Average Precipitation is Forecast in March for:

• Oregon
• Washington
• Idaho
• Montana
• Wyoming

FULL MARCH BREAKDOWN FROM NOAA:

PROGNOSTIC DISCUSSION FOR MONTHLY OUTLOOK 
NWS CLIMATE PREDICTION CENTER COLLEGE PARK MD 
830 AM EST THU FEB 18 2016 
 
30-DAY OUTLOOK DISCUSSION FOR MARCH 2016 
 
THE ONGOING, STRONG EL NINO IS THE EXPECTED PRIMARY DRIVER OF THE CLIMATE OVER 
NORTH AMERICA IN MARCH. THE CURRENT EL NINO EVENT IS 
AMONG THE STRONGEST EVENTS IN THE OBSERVATION RECORDS. WHILE THE STRENGTH OF 
THE EVENT IS PREDICTED TO DECREASE IN BOREAL SPRING, IT IS PROBABLE THAT EL 
NINO CONDITIONS WILL REMAIN STRONG IN MOST OF MARCH. THE TEMPERATURE AND 
PRECIPITATION FORECASTS OF DYNAMICAL MODELS AND STATISTICAL TOOLS ALL INDICATE 
IMPACTS OF THE EL NINO. 
 

ENHANCED PROBABILITIES FOR ABOVE NORMAL TEMPERATURES ARE PREDICTED ALONG THE 
WEST COAST AND OVER MUCH OF THE WEST, EASTWARD ACROSS THE NORTHERN STATES TO 
NEW ENGLAND AND THE NORTHERN MID-ATLANTIC. ALASKA IS PREDICTED TO HAVE ENHANCED 
PROBABILITIES FOR ABOVE NORMAL TEMPERATURES. PROBABILITIES OF ABOVE NORMAL 
TEMPERATURES EXCEED 60 PERCENT FOR SOUTHERN ALASKA AND THE ALASKA PANHANDLE, AS 
WELL AS FOR THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST. 
 
ENHANCED PROBABILITIES OF ABOVE MEDIAN PRECIPITATION ARE PREDICTED ACROSS MUCH 
OF CALIFORNIA, THE SOUTHWEST, CENTRAL/SOUTHERN GREAT PLAINS, AND ALONG THE GULF 
AND ATLANTIC COASTS, AS FAR NORTH AS SOUTHERN MAINE, AND ALSO FOR SOUTHERN 
COASTAL ALASKA. THE HIGHEST PROBABILITIES FOR ABOVE MEDIAN PRECIPITATION ARE 
FOR THE FLORIDA PENINSULA, EXCEEDING 60 PERCENT. BELOW-MEDIAN PRECIPITATION IS 
MORE LIKELY ACROSS THE NORTHERN ROCKIES, AND FROM THE CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI 
VALLEY INTO THE CENTRAL GREAT LAKES REGION, AND MUCH OF WEST AND INTERIOR 
ALASKA. THE PRECIPITATION PATTERN AS PREDICTED BY THE NMME CLOSELY MATCHES THE 
MARCH IMPACTS OF EL NINO.