New 2013 – 2014 Winter Weather Prediction From Powderchasers.com
Latest outlooks still not giving me high confidence in any trend this winter. This is the time of year when the days shorten, and many of us are getting excited for a season that’s just around the corner. After 30 solid days of HOT temperatures in the West a cool down brought moderate rain to the Wasatch, and  and a few fireplaces putting some winter smoke in the air near Park City (Gotta love that).
EARLY SEASONAL WINTER WEATHER FORECAST (BEST GUESS)
The good news is that for most of the West there is an equal chance of below or above average Moisture (Call that normal), and slightly below normal for the Northwest.  We all like to boast trends with La Nina and El Nino which thus far has shown no direction either way (Call it neutral).  There might be a trend for a weak El Nino by January or February bringing higher snow chances to the Southern Rockies and California. Let’s call the pattern La Nada at this point and put my bets on near normal snowfall for much of the West and Northeast.  The Cascades are a wildcard where average or above average may fall early this winter with a trend for lower amounts as the season progresses.  There are also indications of warmer temperatures along the west coast, central and southern Rockies.  Colder conditions are possible  in areas from northern Idaho through the Montana and Wyoming borders extending into the Midwest.  My bets are still for decent winters from the Sierra through many areas of the central Rockies. There might not be any record setting seasonal snowfalls but do expect better conditions in areas that last year that saw very few dumps especially early last season (Central Rockies).  I will update this forecast in early October.  Daily Powder forecasts will begin again in mid November.  THINK DEEP as even the anticipation can be euphoric.
Powderchaser Steve
