It looks the Northwoods is in for a wetter winter.
NOAA released its 2021 Winter Outlook Thursday.
Our region is leaning about 35 percent above normal in terms of precipitation.
Jon Gottschlack is the Chief of NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center Operational Prediction Branch.
He says a wetter winter is typical is years we see La Nina.
“On average, over many events, we favor above normal precipitation for the pacific northwest, down to northern California across to the northern Rockies, but also across many of the areas of the great lakes, Ohio valley, Upper Mississippi valley and that region,” Gottschlack.
Temperature predictions are a bit more split for our region.
Part of it, more towards the northwest, has equal chances of being below or above normal temps.
The farther southeast you head the more likely temperatures will be above normal.
While it is hard to and not always accurate to predict weather long-term like this, Gottschlack says it’s important to get this information out there to give communities their best chance at preparing.
“This outlook supports everyone from local and state governments that must plan for public needs this winter to large and small businesses as they determine how winter could impact transportation, market demand for their goods and services and prices,” he said.
The outlook doesn’t project seasonal snowfall accumulations. NOAA said those are generally not predictable more than a week in advance.
