Those dreaming of a white Christmas might have their hopes dashed after meteorologists have predicted that the U.S. is likely to experience a very weak La Nina climate pattern during the winter holidays. The climate pattern, which is caused by lower temperatures in the Pacific Ocean will be unable to curb the lingering heat from the summer.
Despite the fact that many Americans could be spending the holidays in a T-shirt, GBNews has reported that the Northeast can still expect frigid temperatures and snow during the winter months. According to the outlet, the high temperatures are driven by warm ocean waters , which have also caused several deadly hurricanes in the past few months.
“On the heels of one of the warmest summers on record in the United States, our long-range experts are forecasting a mild winter with above-historical average temperatures across three dozen states," AccuWeather senior meteorologist Paul Pastelok said. “We will have a weaker La Nina for most of this winter, and there could be changes in the storm track during the season."
“It could dive farther south into California, which can result in periods of mild Pacific air moving across the central and eastern US," Pastelok continued. La Nina usually follows El Nino, which causes Pacific waters around South America to warm and change the direction of the wind. This weather phenomenon can usually impact the weather across the globe affecting Africa, Asia and Australia.
Specifically in the US, it would cause temperatures in the North to nosedive while driving them up in the South. Pastelok said that the unnaturally high temperatures will last from December to February. “Between December and February, the warmest areas of the country, compared to the average, will be from the South, central southern Plains states through the Mississippi Valley, up through the Ohio and Tennessee valleys," Pastelok says.
“A combination of La Nina keeping the storm track over the northern part of the country most of the winter, above-average water temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico, and mild Pacific air occasionally flowing into the Plains and East will limit the potential for cold air to have a sustained presence across the southern US," he adds. Despite the warm temperatures in the south, Pastelok has stated that several northern and eastern regions could face a "significant" snow threat.
“Most areas in the Northeast are expected to receive more snow this season than last winter," he said. “An uptick in snow is also likely across parts of the Midwest, including Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan.”
According to Jim Dale, a US meteorologist for British Weather Services and co-author of "Surviving Extreme Weather," agreed with the findings. “A La Nina would affect the weather this winter in the US," he said. “The north may experience colder-than-average conditions while it would be warmer to the south."
"There is the risk of some quite significant periods of snow across northern states," he added. Meanwhile, the potential for deadly hurricanes has only increased with two potential storms already gathering strength. “The National Hurricane Centre is monitoring two areas in the Atlantic for possible tropical development," said Weather Channel spokesman Chris DeWeese.“The next name on this year’s list will be Nadine.”
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