INDIANA— According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Indiana can expect above-average precipitation this winter.
The Climate Prediction Center, a division of NOAA’s National Weather Service, released NOAA’s U.S. Winter Outlook, which covers December 2024 through February 2025 and contains information on likely temperature, precipitation, and drought conditions throughout the country.
The report highlights a slowly developing La Niña.
“This winter, an emerging La Nina is anticipated to influence the upcoming winter patterns, especially our precipitation predictions,” said Jon Gottschalck, chief of the Operational Prediction Branch of the Climate Prediction Center.
La Nina conditions are expected to develop later this fall and typically lead to a more northerly storm track during the winter months, leaving the southern tier of the country warmer and drier.
The Pacific Northwest and Great Lake regions are more likely to get above-average precipitation this season, meaning states like Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio could experience increased rain and snowfall.
States like Washington, Oregon, and Northern Idaho could also see a wetter winter.
Drier-than-normal conditions could hit the South and Southwest states, including parts of Florida, Georgia, Arizona, and New Mexico.
The Southern Plains, Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas may also see below-average rainfall.
NOAA predicts warmer-than-average temperatures for Gulf Coast states like Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama, stretching up the seaboard through Georgia, the Carolinas, and as far North as New England and Pennsylvania.
The Pacific Northwest and Northern Plains are expected to experience colder-than-average temperatures. States like Washington, Oregon, Montana, and North Dakota may see below-average temperatures.
The 2024-2025 U.S. Winter Outlook map for temperature shows the greatest chances for cooler-than-average conditions in the Pacific Northwest of the U.S. (Image credit: NOAA)
Regions experiencing drought in Ohio, Indiana, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia could see some relief. Drought conditions are expected to see little relief in Texas, Kansas, and Oklahoma. New Mexico and Arizona will experience persistent drought.
The 2024-2025 U.S. Winter Outlook map for precipitation shows wetter-than-average conditions are most likely across the Great Lakes region of the U.S. Drier-than-average conditions are forecast for parts of the U.S. Gulf Coast. (Image credit: NOAA)
NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center updates the three-month outlook monthly. The next update will be available on November 21.
