Drier, warmer winter predicted for Gulf Coast

Most of the South and Southeast will be warmer and drier than average through February, according to the annual Winter Outlook, released today by NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center. A moderate to strong La Nińa is forecast to be the dominant climate factor influencing weather across most of the U.S. this winter. The forecast for the Gulf Coast states, Southern Plains and Southeast likely will exacerbate drought conditions in these areas. All Southern states are at risk of having above normal wildfire conditions starting in winter and lasting through spring. “La Nińa is in place and will strengthen and persist through the winter months, giving us a better understanding of what to expect between December and February,” says Mike Halpert, deputy director of the Climate Prediction Center, a division of the National Weather Service. “This is a good time for people to review the outlook and begin preparing for what winter may have in store.” To read NOAA’s Winter Outlook, click here.