The El Niño weather pattern that marked last winter has moved out, replacing by a La Niña, with the likelihood it will affect the weather pattern throughout the nation, and in the Hudson Valley, through winter, according to a report released Thursday by NOAA.
Normally, the presence of a La Niña winter would bring much colder, wetter conditions in the northern tier of the U.S. But this is a weaker than normal La Niña, which could mean it won't have as strong of an impact, according to AccuWeather.com.
La Niña puts emphasis on the northern jet stream, keeping moisture in the northern tier of the country. (See image above.)
La Niña could lead to some big East Coast storm systems during the second half of the winter season to go along with the expected colder temps during the winter, AccuWeather said.
"I think the Northeast is going to see more than just a few, maybe several, systems in the course of the season," AccuWeather Long-Range Forecaster Paul Pastelok said.
It will also be colder, AccuWeather said, with the temperature averaging 3-5 degrees lower than last winter and the region will total a below-normal number of subzero days, too.
A winter outlook released by the Old Farmer's Almanac, in existence since 1792, calls for "mild, snowy" weather in this area, about what you'd expect in any winter season.
The Farmer's Almanac, which was launched in 1818, takes a different view, calling for a “numbing, chilled-to-the-bone, penetrating cold and snow filled” winter for much of the eastern U.S.
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