Winter is right around the corner – so what can we expect this winter and how can we prepare?

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, we can expect warmer than average temperatures and near normal precipitation. 

So what can we do to prepare?

Winter preparedness is key in getting ready for the winter season. There is a specific weather pattern that we can expect this winter. It is called La Niña.

A La Niña pattern brings a variable Pacific jet stream in association with a polar jet stream shifting further south. La Niña episodes in the winter months feature a wave-like jet stream flow across the United States and Canada, which causes colder and stormier than average conditions across the North, and warmer and less stormier conditions across the South.

Typical winter impacts associated with ENSO neutral events predict colder air favored across portions of the Northeast, due to a polar jet stream shifted further south.  Meanwhile, warmer air is favored across the southern U.S., with above normal precipitation favored across portions of the southeast US.

In New York City, we can expect brief cold snaps between milder stretches. In terms of precipitation, we’re forecasting slightly above average precipitation with wintry mix/ ice storms more likely for our area. The typical storm systems we get are Alberta clippers, which form in the northwest portions of Canada, travel east and dip south into the Great Lakes and Northeast. Another storm system we get are nor’easters. Nor’easters form along the East Coast and push further north, bringing rain, icy mix and snow. Snow squalls and blizzards can’t be ruled out either with any approaching frontal systems. 

This La Niña weather pattern will bring warmer temperatures and near-normal precipitation.

The World Meteorological Organization predicts this third La Niña pattern will become this century’s first “triple-dip“ La Niña, spanning three consecutive northern hemisphere winters. A "triple-dip" La Niña is back to back years of cooling surface temperatures along the equatorial Pacific Ocean, which can cause extreme weather events (such as droughts, extreme heat and excessive rainfall). 

Based on the current setup of warmer temperatures and above average precipitation, the heaviest snowstorms might set up north and west of our area due to the warmer air we’ll be receiving with these systems. Overall, we can get near normal snowfall amounts this season which can help with our current drought situation. However, more ice storms will be possible, just like last year, due to the warmer temperatures predicted.

Your News 12 Storm Watch team of meteorologists will keep you safe and weather aware during this winter season.