The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Climate Prediction Center has released its prediction for this winter's precipitation, temperatures, and drought forecast for the climatal winter, which runs from December through February.
A developing La Nina is expected to impact the upcoming winter and change the above-normal temperatures we have seen in September and October in South Dakota.
This winter, an emerging La Nina is anticipated to influence the upcoming winter patterns, especially our precipitation predictions.
Jon Gottschalck
Chief of the Operational Prediction Branch of the Climate Prediction Center
Temperatures have been above average during the past few months. Still, according to NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center, much of South Dakota, parts of Minnesota, and all of North Dakota and Montana are looking to see more below-normal temperatures. The better chances for South Dakota look to be across the north.
Going into the winter months, the prediction does not look to bring much drought relief to our area. There are equal chances for precipitation and continued drought conditions to persist.
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.
And the winter precipitation outlook does not bode well for widespread relief.
Brad Pugh
Operational Drought Lead NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center