The weather rhymes but never repeats. Every weather map is different. Every La Niña cool phase of equatorial Pacific Ocean water is different. Which makes trying to predict the upcoming winter’s weather an exercise in futility. Many La Niña winters are colder/snowier for the northern tier of the U.S., but not always.
We had a La Niña winter in 2023-2024. Just over 29 inches of snow fell at MSP; the 30-year average is 51. The winter of 2022-2023 was a La Niña winter, too, and 90.3 inches of snow fell at MSP, the third-snowiest on record. Low confidence: I suspect a colder, snowier winter than the last couple, which isn’t saying much. All these natural cycles occur amid an unnatural backdrop of warming air and water worldwide.
Off and on showers return later Tuesday into Friday, when the mercury may zoom into the low 70s. Maybe half an inch of much-needed rain by Friday? Nothing wintry is imminent, with 50s and 60s right into Halloween.
This will be the fifth time in the last six winters with a La Niña nudging our winter weather patterns.
