Famers' Almanac 2012-2013 Winter Outlook

Labor Day has passed and summer is nearing an end.  Typically around this time of year, forecasts and prognosticators begin to come out and predict what the upcoming winter season will bring and these questions begin to get asked:

• How much snow will I get this year?
• El Nino or La Nina season?
• When is the 1st snowfall going to arrive?

Below is the outlook for the upcoming 2013 winter season.  The basic highlights are.....snowy & cold across the Great Lakes region and East Coast, but drier and warmer than average across the Western U.S. and Central Plains.  There of course is always an uncertainty especially with how last year's winter season panned out.  The jet stream is crucial depending where it sets up, and this year we are expecting a "weak El Nino"which usually favors the East Coast as well as Great Lakes region with average to slightly above average snowfall amounts. 

 

As you saw in my earlier post, I see much of the U.S. seeing average snowfall amounts this coming year with my area (Chicago) seeing their average amount of 35.0" to 40.0" of snow. 

 

 

Eric Szos

Chief Meteorologist