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Another mild winter for Massachusetts? NOAA maps show long-range seasonal forecast.

BOSTON – It may be September, but it's time to talk about winterAnd depending on how you feel about snow, the long-term forecast for Massachusetts could have good news for you.

NOAA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, released its winter forecast on Thursday. The federal agency's maps are based on probability and cover the months of December, January and February.

The temperature forecast predicts above-average temperatures throughout the southern United States and the entire east coast.

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The seasonal temperature forecast for December, January and February.

NOAA


According to NOAA's precipitation forecast, most northern states are expected to experience above-average rainfall, while the south will be drier than usual.

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The seasonal precipitation forecast for December, January and February.

NOAA


Impact of La Niña on the winter forecast

The majority of this forecast was based on one factor, The Little Girl .

We are already seeing signs of a La Niña phenomenon in the waters off the coast of South America.

La Niña is a cooling of these waters compared to average, the opposite of El Niño.

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WBZ-TV Graphics

CBS Boston


NOAA predicts that there is a 71% chance that the La Niña phenomenon will occur and persist in the coming months, likely into next winter.

Most models predict a relatively weak La Niña.

When you look at a typical La Niña winter in the United States, you can understand why NOAA made its prediction.

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WBZ-TV Graphics

CBS Boston


This is just a general idea for the winter. Of course, there can be variations from day to day and week to week.

Although the ocean is cooler than average in the La Niña region, it is otherwise still very warm overall. Water temperatures in the Pacific and Atlantic also play an important role in shaping the winter pattern.

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WBZ-TV Graphics

CBS Boston


Chances are good that New England will have a mild winter

The WBZ Weather Team will issue our official winter forecast in November. However, at this time there is no significant reason or evidence to dispute the NOAA forecast.

We haven’t had a really cold winter here since 2014-2015 and the snowfall in recent years has been ridiculously low. Given the current state of our oceans and atmosphere, it will be extremely difficult to experience a winter with below-average temperatures.

Of course, there will be some cold spells and some snow, but according to initial forecasts, there will also be a mild winter in 2024-2025.

By Vanessa

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