<body><div>La Nina is slowly developing but is still expected to influence winter conditions across the United States. NOAA's U.S. Winter Outlook, released by the Climate Prediction Center, gives insight to what this means for Iowans and Midwesterners.Large parts of the United States will see a warmer-than-average winter, will Iowa?<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2XpVJD_0wLUohXJ00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2XpVJD_0wLUohXJ00" width="960" height="742" ><figcaption>The 2024-25 U.S. Winter Outlook map for temperature shows the greatest chances for cooler-than-average conditions in the Pacific Northwest of the U.S.</figcaption></figure>NOAA said in its prediction that warmer-than-average temperatures are favored in the south up to the eastern Great Lakes.While October has been unseasonably warm, Iowans should prepare for colder weather. December through February has an equal chance of above-normal or below-normal temperatures. The normal daily high in Des Moines is around 36 degrees in December, 31 degrees in January and 36 degrees in February.A small portion of northwest Iowa is more likely to see below-average temperatures, according to NOAA.<h2>How much snow will Iowa see this winter?</h2><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1KIZEw_0wLUohXJ00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1KIZEw_0wLUohXJ00" width="800" height="638" ><figcaption>NOAA's seasonal precipitation outlook map for winter 2024-2025.</figcaption></figure>“This winter, an emerging La Nina is anticipated to influence the upcoming winter patterns, especially our precipitation predictions,” said Jon Gottschalck, chief of the Operational Prediction Branch of the Climate Prediction Center.Like the temperatures, most of Iowa has equal changes of above-normal and below-normal precipitation. A swath of northeast Iowa has a change for above-average precipitation.The Des Moines area normally sees 35.3 inches of snow each season, with about 25.4 inches falling between December and February.<h2>Drought conditions will persist across Iowa, Great Plains, NOAA says</h2><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3qCIp7_0wLUohXJ00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3qCIp7_0wLUohXJ00" width="800" height="673" ><figcaption>NOAA's U.S. seasonal drought outlook map for winter 2024-2025.</figcaption></figure>NOAA noted that extreme drought will continue across much of the Great Plains. In most of Iowa, drought conditions are expected to persist. However, NOAA's drought map indicated parts of southern and southeast Iowa may be drought-free.“Unfortunately, after a brief period in the spring of 2024 with minimal drought conditions across the country, more than a quarter of the land mass in the continental U.S. is currently in at least a moderate drought,” said Brad Pugh, operational drought lead with NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center. “And the winter precipitation outlook does not bode well for widespread relief.”Victoria Reyna-Rodriguez is a general assignment reporter for the Register. Reach her at vreynarodriguez@registermedia.com or follow her on Twitter @VictoriaReynaR.This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: What does NOAA's winter outlook show for Iowa and the Midwest?</div></body>

Mountain View, CA

NewsBreak

What does NOAA's winter outlook show for Iowa and the Midwest?

La Nina is slowly developing but is still expected to influence winter conditions across the United States. NOAA's U.S. Winter Outlook, released by the Climate Prediction Center, gives insight to what this means for Iowans and Midwesterners. Large parts of the United States will see a warmer-than-average winter, will Iowa?