The National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center has issued its long term outlook for the upcoming winter season.

State Climatologist Justin Glisan says the general trend this winter may be slightly cooler than average and near normal precipitation, especially as a long term La Niña cycle continues for the third consecutive year.

“So what we’re looking at is the possibility of La Niña tailing off or shifting back into what we call an ‘enso neutral’ which would be near normal conditions. That could be good news in terms of snowpack potential, but also our spring climatological behavior.”    

The three month outlook gives probabilities for trends over the long term — even in a colder than average winter, many warm days could still occur, and the prediction tool does not hone in on specific timing of winter storms.

Glisan says he’s hopeful for large snow events this winter considering the worsening drought across the region — according to the latest national report, severe conditions remain in place in almost all of central Iowa. 

Find the latest U.S. winter climate outlook at Raccoonvalleyradio.com