National Weather Service predicting colder winter in the region

GRAND FORKS, N.D. (KVRR) – While we’ve seen some above average seasonal temperatures this fall,  winter is encroaching on the horizon, and according to the NWS it could be a cold one.

“It’s probably not going to be a long lasting fall by any means where there’s this really smooth transition. So it might come as a shock to some people, especially in the public.”

The development of a La Nina would likely mean a colder and wetter winter for our region with below average temperatures, and more snow.

“The tendency is going to be seeing more of those colder conditions with La Nina, and that’s kind of what we’re expecting this winter.”

However, previous outlooks suggested that while we’re leaning towards those cooler temps, the snow remains more uncertain.

“Probably going to be a pretty quiet November. Not going to say there’s not going to be some flurries, or a one inch snow storm, but that also wouldn’t qualify as a major winter impact. As we head into December, January, February those probabilities do tick up quite a noticeable amount obviously.”

The NWS says that their models suggest that we will see more severe weather events than normal this winter.

“Maybe somewhere in the four to six range. So maybe double an average winter. We’re not looking at anything too dramatic, but we also not looking at a particularly quiet winter like last year, for instance.”

While it’s still uncertain how much snow we can expect to see this winter, weather in our region can change very quickly, and it is important to be prepared.

“Especially when it’s really, really bad blizzards and the interstates start closing down, it’s a really good idea to just limit travel altogether.”