North Texas and much of the U.S. South may be in for a warmer than average winter this season. NBC 5 Meteorologist Brian James explains.
The outlook going into winter will be very familiar for Dallas-Fort Worth and North Texas.
That’s because La Nina will the driving weather pattern again this winter -- the same pattern we were in this past season.
That's the prediction from The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Released Thursday, NOAA's forecast covers December 2021 through February 2022.
So, what can we expect across North Texas during a typical La Nina? The general pattern favors drier and warmer weather. However, because the jet stream typically dives from the Pacific Northwest into the Central Plains, we can still see an occasional surge of colder air dive into North Texas.
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If there happens to be some moisture when the cold air arrives, then some wintry precipitation would be possible.
However, just because La Nina will set up again this winter, that does not mean we’re guaranteed to have another major cold air invasion happen like we did last February.
It will be possible, but certainly not guaranteed.
“Consistent with typical La Nina conditions during winter months, we anticipate below-normal temperatures along portions of the northern tier of the U.S. while much of the South experiences above-normal temperatures,” said Jon Gottschalck, chief of NOAA's Operational Prediction Branch. “The Southwest will certainly remain a region of concern as we anticipate below-normal precipitation where drought conditions continue in most areas.”
NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center updates its three-month outlook each month, with the next update available Nov. 19.
