What Does Another La Ninã Mean for Minnesota This Winter?

The National Weather Service is saying this will be another La Ninã winter, meaning cool water temperatures are along the equator in the Pacific Ocean, but what does that have to do with this winter in Minnesota?

Well, a strong La Nina generally means colder than normal winters for us. When you look back at similar years, some have had below normal temperatures, and some have had above normal temperatures -- but experts generally feel that Minnesota has a fairly good chance of seeing below average temperatures for the winter of 2022-2023.

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La Nina in the pacific also usually means above normal precipitation for Minnesota, which could result in a snowier than normal season ahead. NOAA's precipitation outlook for December 2022 through February 2023 is calling for about equal chances of below normal and above normal precipitation.

The average winter in Saint Cloud typically delivers 48 inches of snow.

Interestingly, both the Farmer's Almanac and the Old Farmer's Almanac are predicting a snowier and colder than normal winter for Minnesota during the 2022-2023 season.