What kind of winter will it be? Here are three different opinions on the subject.
Both the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and The Farmer’s Almanac cited that La Niña would have an impact on this winter season.
The Climate Prediction Center, a division of NOAA’s National Weather Service released its outlook for December 2024 to February 2025 on Oct. 17.
Both the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and The Farmer’s Almanac cited that La Niña would have an impact on this winter season.
The Climate Prediction Center, a division of NOAA’s National Weather Service released its outlook for December 2024 to February 2025 on Oct. 17.
“This winter, NOAA predicts wetter-than-average conditions for the entire northern tier of the continental U.S., particularly in the Pacific Northwest and the Great Lakes region, along with northern and western Alaska.
Meanwhile, drier-than-average conditions are expected from the Four Corners region of the Southwest to the Southeast, Gulf Coast and lower mid-Atlantic states,” the center stated in the post.
“This winter, an emerging La Niña is anticipated to influence the upcoming winter patterns, especially our precipitation predictions,” said Jon Gottschalck, chief of the Operational Prediction Branch of the Climate Prediction Center.
Meanwhile, drier-than-average conditions are expected from the Four Corners region of the Southwest to the Southeast, Gulf Coast and lower mid-Atlantic states,” the center stated in the post.
“This winter, an emerging La Niña is anticipated to influence the upcoming winter patterns, especially our precipitation predictions,” said Jon Gottschalck, chief of the Operational Prediction Branch of the Climate Prediction Center.
“Unfortunately, after a brief period in the spring of 2024 with minimal drought conditions across the country, more than a quarter of the land mass in the continental U.S. is currently in at least a moderate drought,” said Brad Pugh, operational drought lead with NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center. “And the winter precipitation outlook does not bode well for widespread relief.”
The report went on to forecast warmer-than-average temperatures for parts of the eastern Great Lakes and seaboard.
It also predicted wetter-than average conditions in the Great Lakes state.
The report went on to forecast warmer-than-average temperatures for parts of the eastern Great Lakes and seaboard.
It also predicted wetter-than average conditions in the Great Lakes state.
  | Meanwhile, The Old Farmer’s Almanac projected a “temperate, uneventful winter—potentially a welcome reprieve from the extremes of recent years.”, according to Carol Connare, the Almanac’s editor-in-chief. The post’s accompanying graphic depicted our region as being sandwiched somewhere between cold and dry and mild and dry. The Farmer’s Almanac, in contrast, forecasted a wet winter whirlwind. “Taking into account the effect La Niña has on the weather, along with our long-standing formula, we anticipate the winter of 2024-25 will be wet and cold for most locations,” said a post on the almanac’s website. The season’s coldest temperatures will be found from the Northern Plains to the Great Lakes region. But areas east of the Rockies into the Appalachians will also experience many periods of cold conditions. The coldest outbreak of the season will come during the final week of January into the beginning of February, when frigid Arctic air brings a sharp plunge in temperatures almost nationwide, but especially across the Northern Plains. As this very cold air blows across the Great Lakes, heavy snow showers and snow squalls will bring intense bursts of snow to the lee (east) of the Lakes,” the Alamac’s post said. |
Meanwhile, a graphic on the almanac’s site depicted that western Pennsylvania is on the fringes of both white and wet and mild and wet.
While not everyone enjoys snow, the region could benefit from some form of precipitation. Early rain showers in April had Franklin’s total precipitation-to-date at 41.58 inches which was slightly above the normal of 39.82 inches.
However, the drought monitor continued to expand its listing of abnormally dry for most of Venango
County. The report released Nov. 7 showed an expansion of dry conditions throughout most of the state.
At the beginning of November, Pennsylvania’s Drought Task Force declared a drought watch for 33 counties. Two counties, Schuylkill and Berks, were declared to be under a drought warning.
However, the drought monitor continued to expand its listing of abnormally dry for most of Venango
County. The report released Nov. 7 showed an expansion of dry conditions throughout most of the state.
At the beginning of November, Pennsylvania’s Drought Task Force declared a drought watch for 33 counties. Two counties, Schuylkill and Berks, were declared to be under a drought warning.
Venango and other northern counties were not included in the watch. However, much of the state faced the risk of brush fires.
On Nov. 4, the Venango County Commissioners issued a burning ban for the entire county. Despite one tenth of an inch of rain earlier this week, the ban appeared to still be in effect.
“Much of the Commonwealth is at a high risk for fire danger as a result of dry conditions, and it is critical that Pennsylvanians use extreme caution when handling fire or avoid any burning as these conditions persist,” Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn said.
More rain could be on the way on Sunday if weather forecasts pan out.
On Nov. 4, the Venango County Commissioners issued a burning ban for the entire county. Despite one tenth of an inch of rain earlier this week, the ban appeared to still be in effect.
“Much of the Commonwealth is at a high risk for fire danger as a result of dry conditions, and it is critical that Pennsylvanians use extreme caution when handling fire or avoid any burning as these conditions persist,” Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn said.
More rain could be on the way on Sunday if weather forecasts pan out.
Franklin finished out October with 1.71 inches of rain which was more than two inches short of the average of 3.76 inches, according to National Weather Service data.
However, Franklin’s precipitation-to-date was still running slightly above the normal of 39.82 inches with an accumulation of 41.58 inches since January 2024.
However, Franklin’s precipitation-to-date was still running slightly above the normal of 39.82 inches with an accumulation of 41.58 inches since January 2024.
Franklin also ended October with warmer than normal temperatures. The average high for October 2024 was 65 degrees compared to a normal high of 61.4 degrees.
Speaking of warmth, Franklin’s temperature for Nov. 5 reached 75.9 degrees, according to data from the National Weather Service station at the Venango Regional Airport. A later check of Franklin's monthly data listed 77 as the high for the day. It didn’t appear to be a record. The National Weather Services’ almanac showed that Franklin's highest temperature for Nov. 5 was 78 degrees in 1935.
Speaking of warmth, Franklin’s temperature for Nov. 5 reached 75.9 degrees, according to data from the National Weather Service station at the Venango Regional Airport. A later check of Franklin's monthly data listed 77 as the high for the day. It didn’t appear to be a record. The National Weather Services’ almanac showed that Franklin's highest temperature for Nov. 5 was 78 degrees in 1935.
However, the Pittsburgh office of the National Weather Service posted on its Facebook page some climate site that either tied or broke their record high temperature for Nov. 5.
They included Pittsburgh: 81 degrees so far (previous record 80 degrees in 1948); Zanesville, Ohio: 82 degrees (79 degrees in 2022); New Philadelphia, Ohio: 80 degrees (79 degrees in 2022) and Dubois: 79 degrees (76 degrees in 2022).
They included Pittsburgh: 81 degrees so far (previous record 80 degrees in 1948); Zanesville, Ohio: 82 degrees (79 degrees in 2022); New Philadelphia, Ohio: 80 degrees (79 degrees in 2022) and Dubois: 79 degrees (76 degrees in 2022).
While the fall so far has been warm and dry, it remains to be seen what winter will bring.
I did spot a reportedly winter prognostication wooly bear caterpillar. It was predominantly light brown in color which supposedly meant a mild winter. It wasn’t wet, but it wasn’t raining. So, I couldn’t tell if there were any predictions on winter precipitation.
That’s just the nature of things ‘round here.
I did spot a reportedly winter prognostication wooly bear caterpillar. It was predominantly light brown in color which supposedly meant a mild winter. It wasn’t wet, but it wasn’t raining. So, I couldn’t tell if there were any predictions on winter precipitation.
That’s just the nature of things ‘round here.
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