La Niña Forecast: Implications for Pennsylvania’s Winter Conditions
The latest projections from NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center indicate that a La Niña pattern is expected to return to the United States, potentially influencing central Pennsylvania’s winter weather for 2024-2025.
While ENSO-Neutral conditions prevailed throughout August, the Climate Prediction Center forecasts a gradual shift to La Niña conditions beginning in November and lasting through early 2025. ENSO-Neutral refers to near-average sea surface temperatures across much of the equatorial Pacific Ocean. In contrast, a La Niña pattern is characterized by strengthened trade winds along the equator, which push warmer ocean waters west toward Asia. This shift allows cooler-than-average waters to rise along the coasts of North and South America.
As a result of this change, the jet stream is likely to shift northward, potentially leading to wetter-than-normal winters in the Great Lakes region, while the southern and southeastern parts of the country may experience warmer and drier conditions. Colder and wetter weather could also occur in the northwestern tier and Pacific Northwest.
However, the Climate Prediction Center notes that this upcoming La Niña may be weaker than previous instances, possibly diminishing the overall impacts. Despite this, many factors could change throughout the season based on varying atmospheric patterns, particularly for central Pennsylvania.
Stay updated with the FOX43 Weather Impact Team as they monitor the upcoming winter weather developments.
