While you’ll still need your shovel this winter, you probably don’t need to upgrade to a snowblower.
That’s because the Harrisburg region should be in for a fairly mild winter.
This is the second winter in a row that La Niña will be affecting much of the country, and for Harrisburg, that means above-average temperatures with average amounts of snowfall, according to the latest U.S. winter outlook, issued by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
According to NOAA, nationwide, above-average temperatures are expected across the South and the eastern U.S., while wetter-than-average conditions are on tap across the Pacific Northwest, northern Rockies, Great Lakes, Ohio Valley and western Alaska.
La Niña, a meteorological condition that occurs when the water near the equator of the Pacific Ocean is colder than normal, is the contributing factor in much of the outlook for December 2021 through February 2022.
“Consistent with typical La Niña conditions during winter months, we anticipate below-normal temperatures along portions of the northern tier of the U.S. while much of the South experiences above-normal temperatures,” Jon Gottschalck, chief of the Operational Prediction Branch of NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center, said in a statement. “The Southwest will certainly remain a region of concern as we anticipate below-normal precipitation where drought conditions continue in most areas.”
For all of Pennsylvania, this means a 40 to 50 percent chance of above normal temperatures for the winter.
Here is the average temperature range over the last 20 years for winters in Harrisburg, as tracked by the National Weather Service at State College:
The Harrisburg area and areas to the east in Pennsylvania are expected to see an average amount of snowfall, while areas to the north and west of Harrisburg will see a 40 to 50 percent chance of more snow.
In the winter of 2019-2020, Harrisburg saw just 5.1 inches of snow, but last year, 36 inches fell on the region around the state Capitol. That’s just a bit higher than the 30-year average of 30.6 inches, according to the National Weather Service at State College.
These U.S. winter outlooks are issued using the most up-to-date observing technologies and computer models to help communities plan for the months ahead, NOAA officials said.
Read more:
Get ready for cold: Winter weather is supposed to arrive early in Pennsylvania
‘Season of shivers’ awaits in winter 2021-22, according to Old Farmer’s Almanac
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