NORTH DAKOTA ( KXNET ) — With November right around the corner, many North Dakotans are wondering if we’ll have a brutal winter this year.

In the summer months, officials were predicting cold temperatures and high precipitation this winter. But now, our outlook has changed as the Climate Prediction Center (CPC) releases new winter weather predictions today.

“The [new] trend is kind of keeping [winter predictions] closer to normal,” said KX News’ Chief Meteorologist Kenny Miller.

In the CPC’s previous reports, officials were predicting a strong La Niña.

La Niña is a weather phenomenon where temperatures in the Pacific Ocean begin to cool and that cooling comes to North Dakota, making for colder, wetter winters.

But Miller says that what was once a strong La Niña forecast has now been downgraded to weak to moderate. This means that while we still have a greater-than-normal chance of experiencing colder-than-average temperatures this winter, the chances for precipitation are average.

“As far as precipitation outlook is concerned, it’s kind of more here-or-there seasonal-wise,” said Miller. “Confidence isn’t quite as high with the precipitation outlook as temperature.”

And average precipitation chances don’t bode well in remedying the drought and wildfire situation currently facing North Dakota.

Even so, Miller says we should still expect plenty of snow and sleet.

“Right now, our KX Storm Team is of the belief that it’ll be snowier than last winter,” said Miller.
“We were pretty moderate last year. I would expect more than that. How much more? We really can’t say right now, but I would . . . expect much, much colder than last year as well.”

Miller says this change in our winter outlook is due to the CPC having more data to work with, and the predictions will get more precise as we get closer to December.

Miller, however, advises people to get ready for the winter now — rather than later.

“We’re not seeing snow right now,” he said. “We’re not going to snow next week, so now is your chance . . . have a proactive, rather than reactive, approach.”

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