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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Randy Mann: East could be in for stormy winter

RandyMann

Last week, I gave general winter regional outlooks for the Pacific Northwest, southwestern Canada, Southern California, northern Mexico, the northern Great Plains and the Midwest. This week, I’ll provide the winter predictions for the central and southern Great Plains, the northeastern U.S., southeastern Canada and the Southeast.

But first, a look at our local weather. It looks like a wet weather pattern with occasional rain or snow during the early to mid portion of next week. However, there is a better chance of snow around the last few days of November or early December. Have a great Thanksgiving!

The central and southern Great Plains:

Much of this region has suffered through one of the worst drought patterns since the 1930s. With normal or slightly cooler sea-surface temperatures, there should be an increase of moisture during the winter. Unfortunately, moisture totals should remain below normal, extending the drought cycle into early 2013. The middle of November, December and January would see the best chance for measurable precipitation in this region. Some snow is likely down into the Panhandle region of Oklahoma and Texas, especially toward the end of each winter month.

The northeastern U.S. and southeastern Canada: We should see cooler and wetter-than-normal weather during the upcoming winter. This region has already seen one powerful storm, Sandy, in late October. It’s quite possible that another one or two nor’easters will move into the region, bringing crippling blizzards during the middle or the last week of November, December, January, February or early March. If ocean temperatures remain colder than normal into at least early 2013, then much of the moisture that falls will likely be as snow.

The southeastern U.S., including Florida: With a cool-down in sea-surface temperatures near the equator, conditions for the upcoming winter look colder and drier than normal. Frosty temperatures, which could threaten citrus and vegetable crops, will be possible down into central, and even southern Florida, toward late December and into mid-January. There will also be instances of ice from the Tennessee Valley south to areas just north of Gulf Coast as colder air moves in from Canada and clashes head-on with copious amounts of Gulf moisture.

Contact Randy Mann at www.facebook.com/wxmann, or visit www.longrange weather.com.