The Weather Blog

The National Weather Service and the NOAA have issued their annual winter outlook. While far from definitive, maps and analysis reflect the best insight long-term models can offer. Forecast excerpts follow.

For the second year in a row, La Niña will influence winter weather patterns across the country, but as usual, it’s not the only climate factor at play. The wild card is the less predictable Arctic Oscillation that could produce dramatic temperature swings this winter.

NOAA expects La Niña, which returned in August, to strengthen and continue through the upcoming winter. It’s associated with cooler than normal water temperatures in the tropical Pacific Ocean and influences weather throughout the world.

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AccuWeather is again predicting a promising, cold and snowy, La Niña winter for the Northeast. Following are excerpts from that forecast.

Accuweather is calling for above average precipitation through most of the Northeast from January into February. With the exception of northern parts of New York and New England, temperatures are forecast to average near normal this winter.

While the winter’s predominant storm track won’t be focused over the major Northeastern cities, coastal areas won’t escape unscathed. Meteorologist Paul Pastelok warns there could significant snow or ice storms in the early part of the season along the I-95 corridor.

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