Don't Let Mild Weather Conditions Fool You

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Published on November 30 2017 10:44 am
Last Updated on November 30 2017 10:44 am

BY JEFF BROWN

Just past Thanksgiving and approaching the unofficial start to winter on Dec. 1, many people around Illinois are counting their blessings of mild temperatures and scant snowfall. But the state’s climatologist warns that the end of the winter season could be much worse than the beginning.

Jim Angel, with the Illinois State Water Survey, told the RFD Radio Network® that the weak La Nina weather pattern currently in place could bring colder temperatures and more snowfall to the state early in 2018.

“It seems to be more on the back end of the winter season that that happens,” he said. “So not so much December snow, but January, February and March, you seem to see more snow out of those weak La Nina winters.”

In fact, weak La Ninas often send more snowfall to Illinois than the patterns considered strong, Angel added.

In the meantime, above-average temperatures could continue for another week.

“The shorter-term forecast, there really isn’t any kind of promising snowstorm systems rolling through the Midwest anytime soon,” Angel said. “We’re looking at highs in the 40s and 50s throughout the next week and lows in the 30s and 40s. So it’s going to be very mild feeling, more like early October instead of early December.”

The following week, he called for near-normal temperatures with greater chances of precipitation.