NWS predicts wet winter

Posted on October 26, 2017
Snow
The latest outlook from the National Weather Service indicates that most of the state has an increased chance of above average precipitation this winter. (Photo courtesy Pixabay)

By WJBC Staff

SPRINGFIELD – Illinois could be in store for a wet winter this year.

There’s about a 55 to 65 percent chance of a La Niña developing this winter, but it’s expected to be relatively weak and short lived. State climatologist Jim Angel with the Illinois State Water Survey said it could have an effect on precipitation.

“For the winter months of December through February, wetter than normal conditions are favored across all of Illinois,” Angel said. “It’s part of a wetter pattern associated with La Niña that that covers the Great Lakes and as the Ohio River Valley as well as the northern Rockies.”

Southern Illinois is more likely to be warmer than usual over the winter. The rest of the state has equal chances of above or below average temperatures.

“We could have significant amounts of winter precipitation fall as rain rather than snow especially in milder winters,” Angel said.

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