National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

Frigid Airmass to Bring Significantly Colder Temperatures; Snow Continues Downwind of the Great Lakes

A frigid cold airmass will bring significantly colder weather across the eastern two thirds of the country early this week. Record low temperatures are expected in the Southeast by Tuesday morning. Moderate to heavy lake effect snow will continue downwind of the Great Lakes through Monday. Several inches of snow accumulation is expected, including in portions of the Chicago Metro Read More >

A La Niña Watch has been issued by the Climate Prediction Center. There is a 50-55% chance of La Niña conditions developing this fall and continuing through the winter.

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Below is a map of the typical effect La Niña has on the November-March temperatures in the United States. The yellow and orange colors indicate areas where temperatures often average warmer than normal during a La Niña winter:

La Nina temperature anomalies

 

 

Here is a map showing the typical effect La Niña has on November-March precipitation. The blue and green colors in the Ohio Valley indicate a tendency toward wetter than normal conditions:

La Nina precipitation anomalies

 

It is important to remember:

  • The influence of La Niña on the Ohio Valley is not very strong
  • Every La Niña is different, and not all La Niña winters behave the same way
  • The strength of the La Niña may make a difference in how it affects our weather both in terms of precipitation and temperature  (so far, this La Niña is expected to be weak)
  • There are myriad factors that work together to result in the weather we experience -- La Niña is just one of them