(WICHITA, Kan.) — After a record hot summer, you may be wondering what will this winter bring? Whether you love the snow or hate the cold, winter is coming.
Some people assume, when it's so hot in the summer it will be extremely cold and snowy come December and January. But meteorologist Ross Janssen that's not exactly the case. He says in the past, winters following a hot dry summer have been milder with below normal snowfall. For example, after the scorching summer of 1981, Wichita only recorded about 3 inches of snow through the entire season.
Ross says making a seasonal forecast is difficult because there are so many variables that come into play. A strong La Nina is influencing the pattern once again, so this winter could be similar to last winter. A strong La Nina has been partially to blame for the extreme drought we've had. La Nina is colder than normal water in the Pacific, which often means much of the central and southern United States experience dry and warm weather.
Ross says the drought will likely continue through the winter months for much of the area, as this is typically a dry season anyway. Cold, arctic outbreaks should be brief with milder stretches of weather in between. Ross is expecting 3-4 good winter storms with rain, snow and even some ice in the state.
