Written by: Hannah Field | Editor-in-Chief
In February of 2023, the Northern Hemisphere declared that season the warmest winter on record. According to climate.gov, eight states that season made the same claim across the Great Lakes and the upper midwest — leading to growing concern for the 2024-25 cold season’s capability.
With that in mind, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s weather outlook predicted colder temperatures and heavier precipitation in the Pacific Northwest for the upcoming winter. The report identified a 40-50% chance that temperatures will be below average, the greatest percentage compared to the rest of the country.
It is expected that the equatorial Pacific will be facing a weak La Niña current, cooling temperatures and bringing with it rain and snow to the area. The weak La Niña comes from climate patterns over the Pacific Ocean, with a more recent “triple-dip” La Niña occurring during the cold seasons from 2020 to 2023. Warmer water is pushed out to Asia, leading to colder seasons in Oregon, Washington, Idaho and most of Alaska.
As the Pacific Northwest is as wet as usual — expected to get wetter — the South was facing relentless snow as of Saturday, Jan. 11. Memphis, Tennessee, received seven inches of snow — a record set for most snow seen in a single day in 40 years. Atlanta, Georgia, saw two inches, the most seen in one day in seven years, from the snowstorm overtaking the region. In its wake, flights were canceled, schools closed, roads were dangerously icy and power was lost.
Due to a power outage caused by weather in the capital city in Virginia, more than 200,000 people faced advisory warnings to boil their water before drinking.
Most of eastern America is expected to experience further chilling weather throughout the week.
Differing from Oregon’s wet expected winter prediction, California’s dry winter and off-coast windstorms caused catastrophic fires to sweep Los Angeles coming out of the new year. Although the cause for the fires has yet to be determined, experts have already ruled out lightning as a potential cause.
It is recommended to continue to check the forecast, as no winter prediction can prepare an individual for sudden changes, such as ice, snow or other hazardous weather conditions.
Contact the author at howleditorinchief@wou.edu
