NOAA'S Winter Outlook Released

This year's winter outlook has been released by the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and it calls for a mild winter for most spots. One of the national centers, the Climate Prediction Center (CPC), takes the lead in presenting these seasonal outlooks. Officials at NOAA's CPC say La Niña is one of the key factors for this upcoming weekend. The agency expects the winter weather pattern to evolve through February and even March.

At the top of this article, you'll find the temperature outlook for the mainland U.S. The Southwest, Deep South, Southeast, and East Coast are expected to have a mild winter, while the northern High Plains and Pacific Northwest are expected to have a cooler winter. The precipitation outlook follows the same general pattern, with some wetter weather possible in the Upper Midwest, Ohio Valley, and Great Lakes.

CPC expects La Niña to develop throughout the winter months, which typically leads to a more northerly storm track, leaving the southern tier of the country warmer and drier. As a result, widespread relief from drought does not appear likely across the South. With this pattern, there is a snowy potential across parts of the Upper Midwest and Pacific Northwest. Lower snow totals could come in from the Southwest and East Coast.

Remember, outlooks are a look at the broader picture. Darker colors indicate the CONFIDENCE in the forecast, NOT the amount a region will be warmer or wetter.

Day-to-day weather conditions will still vary...so it’s important to keep up to date on the latest conditions...and we’ll do that right here on WeatherNation.