Colder, wetter winter than past 2 in forecast
Published: Fri, Nov. 21, 2008 12:30AM
Modified Fri, Nov. 21, 2008 02:21AM
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closeThe official winter weather outlook says the Triangle will be colder and wetter than the past two years, according to the National Weather Service's Climate Prediction Center.
It released its winter outlook Thursday.
"Does this mean more snow this winter? Well, not necessarily, but it does mean our chances this winter may be a little better than those of the last couple of winters," said Jeff Orock, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Raleigh.
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The last winter storms to strike the area occurred in 2004 and 2005. The lack of winter weather in 2007 and early 2008 was in part because of La Nina, defined as lower than normal sea surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific Ocean, according to the National Weather Service.
La Nina created a shift in weather patterns resulting in below-normal precipitation, according to the outlook. However, weather patterns are returning to near normal.
It is difficult to predict how many winter storms will affect North Carolina this winter, but a return to near normal temperatures as well as near normal precipitation means some of the precipitation could be snow, sleet and freezing rain, the release said.
Read the outlook online at www.noaanews.noaa.gov. North Carolina snowfall climatology information can be found online at www.ncdc.noaa.gov.
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