Some say it'll be warm and some say it'll be cold.
By Nick Kanczuzewski
Wednesday, September 16, 2009 at 9:49 a.m.
Read more: Local, State, National, Community, Environment, Weather, Outdoors, Tourism, Science
UPPER PENINSULA -- Winter is still a few months away, but due to the recent release of The Farmers' Almanac's winter outlook, people are already thinking about cold weather.
Some are hoping for cold and snowy conditions, while others hope for a mild and dry winter. One thing that's for sure, forecasts for the upcoming winter are as varied as the hopes of Yoopers.
"Well we would hope for a good deep snow. We think the land needs it and it keeps us from spoiling," commented winter lover Joe Juett. "We think it's the most beautiful place in the world when there's a deep snow on the ground--it's so pure and clean."
"I'll go for the nice warm and dry weather; there's less snowblowing, of course," said Ron Laitinen of Negaunee. "I do a lot of fishing in the winter, so cold weather sort of puts the clamps on that."
The National Weather Service is forecasting above average temperatures here in Upper Michigan, especially across the western half of the peninsula, but the precipitation outlook is for average amounts. So, why do they feel it will be warm?
"Basically, the El Nino and the trend over the last decade to two decades has been for warmer than average temperatures in the north-central part of the United States, including the U.P.," added TV6 chief meteorologist Karl Bohnak.
On the flipside, The Farmers' Almanac is forecasting a bitterly cold and dry winter, with the upper Great Lakes as the coldest spot. They point to the fact that we are in a weak solar cycle, and they also believe the El Nino will remain weak.
"Some of our colder winters in the north-central part of the country have occurred during weak El Nino's," Bohnak said. "Then, if you wind up getting blocking in the higher latitudes, you can bring down that cold air into the United States."
What it all comes down to is the strength of the El Nino. A strong one will likely mean a mild winter, but a weak one could result in cold weather. Now, if you're keeping score, The Farmers' Almanac's forecast last winter was more accurate than the National Weather Service's. That could mean 2010 will start off on the frigid side.
