New Winter Outlook Shows La Nina Now More Likely

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA, released their official forecast and it appears that La Nina is back as a part of the outlook.

Karin Bumbacco with the Washington State Office of the Climatologist said ocean water temperatures have cooled more than expected and atmospheric conditions changed to more likely mirror La Nina.

“So in the fall it definitely looks like there’s a higher probability of La Nina developing. By winter those chances are still just a little bit higher than neutral. It’s about a 55 percent of La Nina conditions.”

And with all the rain the Northwest has gotten, there is no abnormally dry areas of Washington and the drought through Umatilla County is expected to end.

Bumbacco said the expectations are now for above normal precipitation from December through February.

“Which would be great news for the snow in our mountains because with that above normal precipitation forecast they’re actually calling for about near normal temperatures for December through February which of course means snow in the mountains.”

Bumbacco said this is still just the most likely probability, and that is too early to tell what this could mean for water supply next year.

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