The leaves are changing colors, pumpkin spice flavors are taking over, and last-minute Halloween decorations are appearing across campus this fall. However, for those of you familiar with North Dakota, the winter looms large and will be here before we know it.
Each year, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration utilizes complex algorithms and computer models that analyze the weather patterns to predict long term seasonal outlook predictions that play a vital role in keeping the public well informed and prepared of what to expect during the winter months.
This winter, according to initial projections based off NOAA’s high-performance computer system, is expected to be a La Niña. The development of La Niña’s is due to the cooling of the ocean’s surface temperatures in the Pacific Ocean. This periodic cooling has a direct impact on the strength and trajectory of the jet streams that pass through the United States and plays a key role in the atmospheric conditions and weather patterns that can be expected during the winter months.
According to the National Weather Service, conditions associated with La Niña winters are generally colder and stormier than average conditions across the northern portions of the contiguous United States. Meaning this year, it can be expected based of the current forecast provided that this year’s winter will bring colder than average temperatures for the University of North Dakota and members of the Grand Forks community alike.
Regarding the preventative steps that should be taken, take any seasonal outlook forecast with a grain of salt as it is impossible to perfectly predict and forecast the Earth’s atmospheric weather patterns. However, both university students and Grand Forks residents alike can make sure that they are prepared for this year’s winter by ensuring that they have adequate winter gear, gloves, hat, boots, jacket, and more to make sure that they are protecting themselves from the subzero temperatures that can and will present themselves this winter. For those of you interested in giving back to the community and helping those in need, opposed to throwing out old winter coats and winter gear from previous years, consider visiting the Salvation Army in Grand Forks or any other service organization in which you can donate lightly used winter gear for those that are less fortunate within our own community.
Be sure to follow local weather and news networks for the latest information and updates on weather patterns and forecast for this upcoming winter and brace yourselves for La Niña this year.
https://www.noaa.gov/news-release/us-winter-outlook-warmer-and-drier-south-wetter-north
Daniel Silva is a Dakota Student General Reporter. He can be reached at [email protected].
