Last winter, the United States experienced its warmest winter on record. Meteorologists are now predicting mild temperatures once again across much of the country.
If you’re an Upstate resident who woke up Thursday morning to frost and cold, you may be wondering how this is possible. This is partly due to the effects of the La Niña phenomenon, which weakens in the winter.
“During a strong La Niña event, we typically see a dominant storm track over the northwestern United States and western Canada. For most of this winter, La Niña will weaken,” said AccuWeather’s Paul Pastelok. Deaf,” he said. “Changes in the path of the storm could occur during this winter season. The storm could move further south and into California, which is expected this year. As a result, the calm Pacific air may move through the central and eastern United States at times.”However, weak signs of La Niña could push some cold air into the Midwest and Northeast. ”
La Niña weather is not the only factor contributing to warm winter weather. The polar vortex is another, a mass of cold air tightly bound to the polar regions by strong counterclockwise winds. If this winter is anything like previous seasons, a polar vortex could push frigid air into the eastern United States in February.
Water temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico are also expected to be warmer than historical averages, creating a mild air mass over the central and eastern United States.
Here’s what you need to know about this winter’s weather forecast.
What is La Niña?Winter temperatures in La Niña years are higher than average in the south and lower than average in the north. According to NOAA, the weather phenomenon is pushing warm water toward Asia and increasing upwelling off the west coast of the Americas, bringing cooler, nutrient-rich water to the surface. The cold waters of the Pacific Ocean could then push out the jet stream, causing drought in the southern United States. It will also bring heavy rain and flooding to the Pacific Northwest and Canada, increasing the likelihood of a very active hurricane season.
Which region of Japan will be the warmest this winter?
Heating demand this winter is expected to be below historical averages in about 75% of the country. There are several southern regions where this is especially true, from the mid-south Plains states through the Mississippi Valley to the Ohio and Tennessee valleys. These areas are expected to be the hottest this season. Significant reductions in energy bills may be a boon for residents living in these areas.
According to AccuWeather, “…long-range experts say temperatures are more than 3 degrees warmer than historical averages throughout the season in many areas of the Gulf Coast and Mid-South region, including Dallas, New Orleans, Atlanta and Nashville. He says it is possible.”
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) winter outlook is also consistent with AccuWeather’s winter outlook, predicting warmer-than-average temperatures across the southern United States, including the Great Lakes, East Coast, New England, and northern Alaska. Wetter than normal weather is also expected across the northern portion of the continental United States
Will it snow in South Carolina this winter?
Southerners hoping for snow this season may still have a chance. According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac’s winter forecast, areas in Region 4 (Georgia and the Carolinas) will see above-average precipitation and snow chances this winter. While it may not be snowing to open your Christmas presents, it’s still possible from late January to late February. This could also affect travel for people planning to watch the 2025 Super Bowl in New Orleans in early February, the Almanac said.
When is the first day of winter?
According to the almanac, the first day of winter in the Northern Hemisphere this year is Saturday, December 21st at 4:21 a.m. ET. The winter solstice is the day with the least amount of daylight of the year and the first day of winter. Summer lovers don’t need to feel too down about this change. It may be the beginning of winter, but brighter days await. After the winter solstice, the days continue to get longer until the summer solstice, the first day of summer and the longest day of the year.
When does spring start?
Meteorological winter lasts from December 1st to the end of February. Astronomical winter ends on Thursday, March 20, 2025, the vernal equinox.
Nina Tran covers trending topics for The Greenville News. Email ntran@gannett.com.
