Forecasts are calling for one of the strongest La Niña weather events on record. Officially, La Niña conditions already began and are picking up steam, with peak months expected in December through February. Meteorologists say extreme weather conditions could be on the horizon.
The last La Niña, classified as moderate, hit in 2007-2008. Western Montana residents may remember doing a lot of shoveling that winter. To prepare you for this winter, here’s a small guide to what weather you can expect and what, exactly, La Niña is.
But keep in mind, Bob Nester of the National Weather Service in Missoula said La Niña has a large degree of “variability,” so predicting her weather patterns is an inexact science.
La Niña Fast Facts:
English translation is “the little girl.”
What is it? According to the National Oceanic Atmospheric Association, “La Niña is defined as cooler than normal sea-surface temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean that impact global weather patterns. La Niña conditions recur every few years and can persist for as long as two years.”
What’s the difference between La Nina and El Nino? El Niño is essentially the opposite, characterized by unusually warm sea-surface temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean. Based on jet streams, areas that are warmer during La Niña are often cooler during El Niño, or vice a versa, while precipitations follow those same trends. Case in point – last winter was a product of El Niño.
What will this year’s be like? Forecasts are calling for a moderate to strong La Niña in terms of intensity, with above-normal precipitation in the Pacific Northwest and normal to above-normal precipitation in the Northern Rockies, with the chance of arctic events.
What does this mean for Montana? While other areas of the nation could see droughts and warmer weather, even hurricanes, Montana will likely experience more storms, lower temperatures and more precipitation in the mountains. In other words, it could be a frigid, snowy winter.
Missoula National Weather Service Outlook for La Niña:
-Increased frequency of storms
-At or above normal precipitation and snowpack
-Potential for increased frequency of arctic events (defined as minimum temperatures less than negative 10 degrees)
-Five out of the six strongest La Niñas have produced minimum temperatures less than negative 20 degrees
-Eastern Montana more likely to have extreme cold events
What this means if you’re a hunter – More snowfall in the mountains will bring game down to the lower areas and could mean a productive hunting season.
What this means if you’re a skier or snowboarder – Whitefish Mountain Resort is predicting an excellent year for snowpack, which should be refreshing after such a dry winter last year.
What this means if you’re none of the above – The couch will look even more comfortable. Enjoy your hibernation.