Forecast, outlooks, predictions, everyone wants to know who is going to get the big winter storms during the 2017 – 2018 winter. To help in our projections, the National Weather Service has released some long range forecast maps for the upcoming winter.
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What NOAA’s official maps are showing us is that with an onset of La Niña, this winter will see most of the PNW and northern rockies with an above average chance of precipitation. Temperature probability for much of the United States is a little more clear with NOAA calling for above average temperatures, everywhere except for the northernmost reaches of the western USA.
“The October ENSO forecast says La Niña conditions are favored during the fall and winter 2017-18, but at press time the ocean-atmosphere system didn’t quite meet the criteria for a La Niña Advisory.” – NOAA
Currently, our focus is on the Northern Rockies, where NOAA is predicting above average precipitation for the 2017/2018 season. That precipitation is projected to be accompanied by colder than average temps, making for all-time conditions throughout the season.
Official Winter Outlook From NOAA
Winter Weather Forecast December – January – February  2017-18
Precipitation Probability
Temperature Probability
La Niña:
The Climate Prediction Center is saying there is a good chance of La Niña developing early this winter chance. The typical La Niña pattern delivers a more northern leaning jet-stream, delivering snow and cold temps to the PNW and Northern Rockies.
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