Chilly Countdown
“Weather” you’re ready or not, winter is coming and this year promises to be extra chilly for certain parts of the country.
Our team of long-range forecasters, led by Senior Meteorologist Paul Pastelok, has made their annual prediction for the upcoming winter season, giving business a sneak peek at what Old Man Winter has in store.
The 2021-2022 winter season will be similar to last year thanks to a weather phenomenon called La Niña, which occurs when the water near the equator of the Pacific Ocean is cooler than average. This, in turn, influences the jet stream and the track that storms take when moving across the country. But this year, La Niña is weaker, meaning other factors like the polar vortex will also play a role in the weather. The conditions will allow colder air from the Arctic to slide southward into the U.S. before the official start of winter.
Across the country, here are some highlights of what to expect:
- Northeast: Colder than last year, especially for interior sections, with temperatures one to three degrees below normal. Snow will start earlier with a heightened risk for nor'easters at the tail end of the season
- Great Lakes and Northern Plains: Expect higher-than-normal snowfall for the from October through April
- Southwest: Dry and warm weather will continue to create wildfire threats into December, especially for central and southern California
- Southeast: The Atlantic coast will enjoy mild weather with drier-than-normal conditions. Places like Miami, FL and Charleston, SC could all receive below-average rainfall
- Northwest and Rockies: A wet winter is expected with plenty of snow in the mountains, but not as much as last year’s recording-breaking amounts. The early arrival of snow and rain will also spell an end to the active wildfire season for this region
Want to take a deeper dive into what’s to come? Check outPaul Pastelok’s full winter forecast below:
