La Niña Forecast to Bring a Winter of Weather Extremes
CAMP SPRINGS, Maryland, October 21, 2010 (ENS) – Warmer and drier than average weather is in store for the South and Southeast regions through February 2011, while the Pacific Northwest should brace for a colder and wetter than average winter, NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center said today in its annual Winter Outlook.
A moderate to strong La Niña pattern will be the dominant climate factor influencing weather across most of the United States this winter.
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Jeffers Hill, Maryland was buried in snow, February 20, 2010 (Photo by Jeff Kubina) |
La Niña is associated with cooler than normal water temperatures in the Equatorial Pacific Ocean, the opposite of El Niño which is associated with warmer than normal water temperatures.
Both of these climate phenomena, which typically occur in two to five year cycles, influence weather patterns throughout the world and often lead to extreme weather events.
Last winter’s El Niño contributed to record-breaking rain and snowfall leading to severe flooding in some parts of the country, with record heat and drought in other parts of the country.
“La Niña is in place and will strengthen and persist through the winter months, giving us a better understanding of what to expect between December and February,” said Mike Halpert, deputy director of the Climate Prediction Center, a division of the National Weather Service. “This is a good time for people to review the outlook and begin preparing for what winter may have in store.”
“Other climate factors will play a role in the winter weather at times across the country,” said Halpert. “Some of these factors, such as the North Atlantic Oscillation, are difficult to predict more than one to two weeks in advance. The NAO adds uncertainty to the forecast in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic portions of the country.”
Regional highlights:
- Pacific Northwest: colder and wetter than average. La Niña often brings lower than average temperatures and increased mountain snow to the Pacific Northwest and western Montana during the winter months, which is good for the replenishment of water resources and winter recreation but can also lead to greater flooding and avalanche concerns
- California and the Southwest: warmer and drier than average. This will likely exacerbate drought conditions in these areas. All southern states are at risk of having above normal wildfire conditions starting this winter and lasting into the spring
- Northern Plains: colder and wetter than average. Likely to see increased storminess and flooding
- Southern Plains, Gulf Coast States and Southeast: warmer and drier than average. This will likely exacerbate drought conditions in these areas. All southern states are at risk of having above normal wildfire conditions starting this winter and lasting into the spring
- Florida: drier than average, with an equal chance for above-normal, near-normal, or below-normal temperatures. Above normal wildfire conditions
- Ohio and Tennessee Valleys: warmer and wetter than average. Likely to see increased storminess and flooding
- Northeast and Mid-Atlantic: equal chances for above-normal, near-normal, or below-normal temperatures and precipitation. Winter weather for these regions is often driven not by La Niña but by weather patterns over the northern Atlantic Ocean and Arctic. These are often more short-term, and are generally predictable only a week or so in advance. If enough cold air and moisture are in place, areas north of the Ohio Valley and into the Northeast could see above-average snow
- Central U.S.: equal chances of above-near-or below normal temperatures and precipitation
- Hawaii: drier than normal through November, then wetter than normal December through February. Statewide, the current drought is expected to continue through the winter, with several locations remaining on track to become the driest year on record. Drought recovery is more likely on the smaller islands of Kauai and Molokai, and over the windward slopes of the Big Island and Maui
- Alaska: odds favor colder than average temperatures with equal chances of above or below normal precipitation. The interior and southern portions of the state are currently drier than normal. A dry winter may set Alaska up for a greater chance of above normal wildfire conditions in the spring
This seasonal outlook does not project where and when snowstorms may hit or total seasonal snowfall accumulations, says the Climate Prediction Center. Snow forecasts are dependent upon winter storms, which are generally not predictable more than several days in advance.
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