The latest update from the CPC kept the same precipitation pattern for July-September as it had predicted in March - DRY in the Plains with a Kansas City Ridge at the center. Storms are forecast to ride the periphery of ridge which could initiate an active and early Southwest Monsoon as well as stormy Cornbelt, Southeast, and Mid-Atlantic. This precipitation pattern is not what I would expect given the developing El Niño - I am more worried about a Texas-to-Georgia Ridge (more on that soon). Now have a look at the image on the left and note how hot the CPC is forecasting the Western States while predicting a cooler than average summer in the heart of the Cornbelt. To be honest, I'm not sure what to make of this just yet. More analysis coming soon...