SAN DIEGO - The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has published a drought map that favors the continuation of drought from Iowa into Michigan, with spotty relief expected. Drought is expected to largely persist from Utah to Wyoming and Montana and eastward to the Dakotas and Nebraska, although some short-term improvement is seen. "We can say goodbye to El Nino in the next month or so," said retired Navy Vice Adm. Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Ph.D., undersecretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator. "Depending on where you live or play, you're either thankful for the drought-busting Eastern rains and snow, or disappointed by the lack of Western snow pack." For the contiguous U.S., on average the past winter was not unusual as it was the 31st warmest and 58th driest out of the last 109 years, but average conditions were not the norm. For the winter season as a whole, temperatures averaged well above the long-term average from the West Coast into the Upper Midwest, and Alaska had its second warmest year on record (since 1918). In contrast, 27 states in the eastern half of the United States had significantly cooler than average winter temperatures.