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Expect a rapid transition to winter thanks to La Nina
An ag meteorologist warns farmers to expect an abrupt transition to winter this year in line with the La Nina forecast.
Brownfield’s Greg Soulje says while October looks good for fieldwork, all bets are off come November, “Going from almost this summer like warmth to an early winter chill, in monopoly terms without passing GO or collecting $200.”
As usual, colder weather will start in the plains and Soulje says livestock producers need to be one step ahead. “Feed, shelters and other requirements need to be ready sooner than usual.”
He says the pattern will then follow up in the corn belt, “Generally starting warm and wet and then going to mixed moisture and cold then snow in a fairly rapid transition within a week or two time frame.”
And a harsher winter is expected further south as well, including the delta region.
“Probably a higher frequency and number of frost and freeze events as far south as central Florida. There may be the usual suspect areas of snow and ice deeper into the wintertime season for the Tennessee Valley and Mid-Atlantic region but probably even a colder than average weather pattern there.”
He says any precipitation that can soak in the ground ahead of the first freeze event will be welcome in both areas of drought and moisture laden soils.
Soulje is not concerned about repeating last year’s winter events in Texas. He says brief cold waves and a couple of mid to late season snow and ice systems into the Red River Valley should be expected.
His greater concern involves areas from the lower Mississippi River Valley eastward, including western Kentucky. He says farmers in that area should prepare for a wet end to the fall season and start to winter with heightened occurrences of snow and ice.
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What about the Gulf Coast of Texas, We had a freeze and snow for week without electricity 7 days CC costal bend to Houston
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Ida, I asked Greg about winter forecasts for Texas and have added his comments to the story. He is not concerned about a repeat of last winter’s events in Texas but we will continue to monitor forecasts and provide updates!
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Plan for the worst and hope for the best. Texas will get a shot at ice again I’m willing to bet. The hope is your Utility companies are better prepared
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Yeah, we’ll see…………
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How will western Kentucky do
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Hi Mary, I asked Greg specifically about western Kentucky and added his comments to this story. He is concerned about a harsher winter in that area “with heightened occurrences of snow and ice”. We will continue to monitor forecasts for that area and provide updates as we have them!
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This a fairly easy prediction. It’s a common weather phenomenon not unlike El Nino which occurs every so many years. You can actually see it coming from other parts of the world months prior.
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How will this affect the Pacific Northwest
We’ll see.
Predictions are hard to make, especially about the future.