Forecasters Predict Warmer-Than-Average Winter In Majority Of U.S.

NPR

Forecasters Predict Warmer-Than-Average Winter In Majority Of U.S.

Merrit Kennedy        October 19, 2017

This winter is going to be a warm one for the majority of the United States, according to forecasters at NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center.

They say that the La Niña weather pattern is likely to develop. That means “greater-than-average snowfall around the Great Lakes and in the northern Rockies, with less-than-average snowfall throughout the Mid-Atlantic region,” Mike Halpert of the Climate Prediction Center said in a forecast Thursday.

Hawaii, western and northern Alaska and the lower two-thirds of the contiguous U.S. are likely to see warmer-than-average temperatures, Halpert says. A small portion of the Northwest U.S. and parts of Alaska are expected to see cooler-than-usual temperatures.

Check expected conditions in your part of the country on this map:

http://media.npr.org/assets/img/2017/10/19/temperatureoutlook_winter2017_620_custom-6c2b09e29fcd4e43e91c1819394fa24aced6335b-s1500-c85.png

NOAA is predicting warmer-than-average temperatures in December though February for about two-thirds of the contiguous United States. NOAA

Forecasters are predicting less rainfall than usual across the Southern U.S., Halpert adds, while “wetter-than-average conditions are favored across Hawaii, northern and western Alaska and much of the northern part of the lower 48.”

This will be the third year in a row that the country will largely face a warmer winter. As The Washington Post notes, last year “ranked as the sixth-warmest winter on record.” In fact, trees in most of the Southeast U.S. responded to the warm temperatures and came into bloom early, signaling an early spring.

http://media.npr.org/assets/img/2017/10/19/precipitationoutlook_winter2017_620_custom-faacc7d2d5279f486c1ffc0c54f826c47a624487-s1500-c85.png

NOAA’s outlook for precipitation in the U.S this coming December through February.  NOAA

Rising carbon dioxide levels due to climate change are a driving force here, Halpert told reporters, according to the Post. “It does, undoubtedly, play a role. … The increase in CO2 factors into our model forecast.” He added that he does not expect it to be quite as warm as last year.

Halpert stressed that these outlooks could change: “For every point on our outlook maps, there exists the possibility that there will be a below-, near-, or above-average outcome.”

Author: John Hanno

Born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. Bogan High School. Worked in Alaska after the earthquake. Joined U.S. Army at 17. Sergeant, B Battery, 3rd Battalion, 84th Artillery, 7th Army. Member of 12 different unions, including 4 different locals of the I.B.E.W. Worked for fortune 50, 100 and 200 companies as an industrial electrician, electrical/electronic technician.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *