Earth Development

Preparation for winter starts long before the first flakes even hit the ground.

Although it’s too soon to say for sure what this winter will bring, there are several climate patterns currently forming that might give us an idea of what’s to come. Here are a few climate patterns that meteorologists frequently monitor and what they might mean for this winter in the Midwest.

El Niño 🌡️
This weather pattern, known as an El Niño occurs when Pacific jet streams shift further south, warming the ocean’s surface temperature and creating warmer and drier conditions across the midwest. Although no two El Niño events are alike, the presence of this weather pattern this summer indicates the potential for a more mild winter in the Midwest.

Ocean Temperatures 🌊
Meteorologists continually monitor longer-term ocean patterns in both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, known as the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO) and Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO). These two patterns affect where winter storms develop and how they move across the country.

Polar Vortex 🌪️
When this large area of cold air that normally circulates around the Arctic weakens or shifts positions, the cold air often moves down into more southern parts of the United States. This movement creates periods of more active winter weather accompanied by periods of colder temperatures.

It may still be too early to release an official winter forecast, but keeping an eye on these climate patterns helps us predict the weather ahead, helping us stay prepared for whatever the weather brings our way.

Have a prediction for this upcoming winter? Share it with us in the comments down below!

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