A swath of heavy storms causing flooding from Texas through the Ohio Valley and into the Northeast is a preview of what is to come for this spring season, government officials said today.

During a press conference today, officials with the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration discussed the spring outlook for flooding and drought.

Vickie Nadolski, deputy director for the National Weather Service, said the current severe flooding "could be a preview of what we may see as we enter the spring thaw."

She said more than 250 communities in a dozen states are currently experiencing flood conditions and the National Weather Service has issued flash flood and river flood warnings from the Southern Plains to the Upper Midwest.

From media reports, it is estimated that 13 people have lost their lives in the floods and more are missing, she noted.

The spring outlook calls for above average flood conditions through large parts of the country because of record precipitation and melting snow causing rivers and streams to crest over their banks.

Much of the Mississippi, Ohio River and lower Missouri River basin, the states of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, much of New York, the New England states, Colorado and Idaho are expected to experience flooding this spring.

Increased snow fall this winter should help with stream flows in the West, which should help delay the onset of the fire season, said Douglas LeComte, meteorologist with the Climate Prediction Center.

Despite the wet weather throughout portions of the United States, Mr. LeComte said it will not end the drought in parts of Georgia, Florida and Western states.

Joanna Dionne, meteorologist, National Weather Service, hydrologic services, noted that if there is a significant weather event over the course of the spring, it could produce major flooding because the ground is saturated from current and past rains.

Despite the rainfall, Mr. LeComte said in parts of the country, notably West Texas and New Mexico, the drought is expanding with no end in sight.