Find out where it will be unusually hot, humid, wet and sunny -- and what parts of the country might see drought intensify.
A late spring cold snap that broke dozens of temperature records in Northern states isn't an indication that the summer ahead will be cooler than average in the United States.
Over the next week the cool weather is expected to fade, giving way to increasingly warmer conditions as meteorological summer begins on June 1.
That trend is consistent with NOAA's seasonal temperature outlook for June to August, which suggests that warmer-than-average conditions are likely in much of the country, particularly across Western, Northeastern and Southern states.
Last summer was the fourth-warmest on record and among the most humid for the contiguous United States. It was the warmest on record for the planet overall.
As the planet continues to warm, instances of temperatures being below average for an entire season are becoming less common. And there's little indication that the upcoming season will deviate from this ongoing trend.
This summer, marine heat waves along the Eastern Seaboard may increase the frequency of tropical downpours and storms along with humidity, while drought might intensify in the West.
What to know about the summer outlook
Seasonal outlooks don't quite boast the high level of accuracy that weather forecasts do.
However, general themes about whether the season will most likely be unusually warm, cool, wet or dry can be predicted with some success.
Based on the state of global climate drivers, such as El Niño and La Niña, seasonal climate models, which are run by more than a dozen meteorological agencies around the world, provide a glimpse at likely patterns over the coming months.
It's a bit like knowing the theme of a costume party: You have a general idea of what to expect, but not exactly how each guest will show up dressed or when.
Temperatures -- it's looking hot
Based on the temperature outlook, the theme of the costume party will be tropical.
Above- or well above-average temperatures are expected for much of the United States. Odds for a warmer-than-average season are highest for Western states, where drought conditions could exacerbate the intensity of summer heat waves.
The East Coast, including Washington, is also predicted to have warmer than average temperatures. In the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, four out of the past five summers have featured widespread above-average temperatures.
Humidity -- sultry in the East
During a typical summer, when southerly winds blow air from the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea up the Eastern Seaboard, moisture and humidity is plentiful.
But this summer, the muggy meter -- and your air conditioner usage -- may go up a few extra levels.
That's because a recent heat dome caused western Atlantic sea temperatures to soar, which translates to extra humidity and moisture.
Historical data shows that humidity is increasing across the United States with the summer season ahead likely to remain consistent with that trend.
Precipitation -- wetter East, drier West
Precipitation is one of the most challenging weather elements to predict, with forecasters often trying to identify patterns of prevailing high and low pressure to determine where it may be wetter or drier than normal.
Because of recent wet weather, most Eastern states won't be starting summer with a drought. That's good news.
Those are the places where the summer ahead may have a tendency to be wetter. For the same reasons that humidity will probably be higher than normal, tropical moisture may ride along southerly winds, occasionally drenching Southern and Eastern states.
Unusually warm sea temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico and western Atlantic could increase the risk for tropical systems to form or intensify close to land.
It doesn't mean that the season will be devoid of sunny beach days, but it does mean that you may end up dodging more downpours or having to adjust your plans.
In the West, wildfire season is expected to get off to a fast start because of ongoing drought conditions. These conditions are unlikely to be alleviated in the months ahead.
Cloud cover -- unusually clear in the North
For Northern states, sunglasses and sunscreen will probably be a necessity -- it's looking like it will be a sunny summer.
Areas from the Northwest to the Northeast are predicted to have clearer conditions than normal.
In Southern states, above-average amounts of storms could be linked to increased cloud cover.
In the Southwest, there are signals that monsoon season could be more active, bringing consistent downpours and more clouds, especially later in the season.
Summer in D.C.
Meteorological summer may begin on June 1 and astronomical summer on June 20, but what does Mother Nature say?
The hottest average quarter (91-day period) of the year begins on June 8 and runs through Sept. 6 in the nation's capital. The most humid quarter nearly mirrors this, falling between June 12 and Sept. 10.
July 19 is the average hottest day of the year, considering historical data back to 1940.
No matter what date you go by, summer isn't far off and it's looking like a hot, humid one for the United States.