The South and Southeast: A subtle eastward shift in the prevailing storm track brought increased rainfall to areas from the lower Mississippi Valley to the southern Atlantic Coast. During the last 10 days, more than 2 inches of rain fell in the central Gulf Coast States and in portions of central Florida. Prior to the rainfall, irrigation requirements had been increasing in Peninsular Florida's northern citrus and vegetable areas. Despite the rain, a pocket of severe drought (D2) lingers, centered on western Georgia. Severe drought also continues from western and central Texas to central Louisiana, although a small reduction in coverage was noted in the latter state.

Outlook: Dry weather will prevail throughout the South and East for the next several days, except for lingering beneficial showers in Peninsular Florida. Toward year's end, light precipitation is forecast to return to the eastern third of the nation.

The Ohio Valley and Midwest: Monthly rainfall has topped 5 inches in parts of the lower Ohio Valley, although seasonably cooler and drier weather recently overspread the region. Topsoils are wet across much of the lower Midwest and Ohio Valley, and the region's streamflow continued to improve until recently. According to the USGS, 46 percent of the gauges in the Ohio Valley recorded a flow in the lowest 25 percent of the historical rankings for December 22, an improvement from 80 percent on December 9, but up from 12 percent on December 15. Isolated severe drought (D2) lingers in areas centered on northeastern Indiana and northern Kentucky. Only light precipitation has fallen recently across the remainder of the Midwest, thus severe drought (D2) continues in an area centered on eastern Nebraska and western Iowa. Although agricultural impacts are limited this time of year, this area will need to be watched carefully as the spring planting season approaches.

Outlook: Mostly dry weather is forecast to persist into the New Year across the upper Midwest, including the western Corn Belt's severe drought area. Precipitation may return to the Ohio Valley toward year's end.

The Plains: Abnormal dryness (D0) and first-stage drought (D1) persists on the central Plains. Agricultural effects on dormant winter wheat are minimal, except for an increased threat of soil erosion due to high winds and winterkill as a result of exposure to potential severe cold outbreaks.

Outlook: Mild, occasionally breezy, and mostly dry weather is forecast for the remainder of the year. During the next few days the northern High Plains' snow cover is likely to erode due to unusual warmth and downslope winds.

The West: La Niña-driven dryness continues across the Southwest. On the Mongollon Rim of Arizona, Flagstaff recorded an 89th consecutive day without measurable precipitation on December 22, approaching the station's record of 93 days, set in April-July 1974. No rain has fallen in Phoenix, Arizona, since September 22 (91 consecutive dry days through December 22), tying the record set in January-April 1984. Precipitation deficits are not yet hydrologically significant, but topsoils are very dry and range/pasture conditions continue to decline. According to USDA, Arizona's ranges/pastures were 20 percent in very poor to poor condition as of December 19. The abnormal dryness (D0) continues to cause agricultural concerns in southern portions of Arizona and New Mexico, and heighten the risk of wildfire activity in southern California. San Diego's rainfall since July 1 (0.09 inch) may become the city's lowest total for the second half of a year. Other low July-December totals in San Diego include 0.24 inch in 1962, 0.25 inch in 1917, 0.26 inch in 1929, and 0.36 inch in 1980.

Outlook: Santa Ana conditions are expected across portions of southern California during the next few days, heightening the risk of spreading wildfires. During the next 10 days, precipitation the Southwest is forecast to the confined to the southern Rockies, where some light snow may fall.

Hawaii, Alaska, and Puerto Rico: Scattered showers continued to bring limited relief from abnormal dryness (D0) and drought (D1) from Oahu to leeward portions of the Big Island. There are no significant dryness problems in Alaska or Puerto Rico.