From Accuweather.com
Accuweather.com released its official Winter forecast for this 2012-2013 season. The full forecast can be viewed here, but here’s what they said for us in the Midwest.
From Accuweather.com:
Below-Normal Snow for Midwest; Normal Lake-Effect Snow for Great Lakes
Following a dry and mild winter last year, portions of the Midwest is forecast to receive below-normal snowfall this winter.
“Across the Upper Midwest, cities like Chicago, Minneapolis, I think, are going to miss out on the big systems down to the south as far as snowfall goes. I think they are going to have to rely on more clipper systems coming down out of the north and west,” Pastelok said.
Omaha, Green Bay and St. Louis are other cities that may get less snow than normal.
Normal Seasonal Snowfall for the Midwest
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Clipper systems are quick-moving systems that drop down from Alberta, Canada. They often have very little moisture associated with them, so they are not big snow producers.
The lower-than-normal snowfall in the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest will result in spotty snow cover which in turn will help to keep temperatures milder than normal, according to AccuWeather Expert Senior Meteorologist Jack Boston. However, temperature departures are not expected to be as extreme as last winter.
Meanwhile, near-normal snow is predicted for the typical Great Lakes snow belts. The warmer-than-normal water of the Great Lakes will set the stage for the lake-effect snow machine to turn on as any cold waves arrive.
You may be wondering what Ol’ Man Winter will look like this year… Here’s our interpretation.
According to Accuweather.com, we are in for a slightly below average Winter. But there’s no telling just how Ol’ Man Winter will appear in Kansas City. Kansas City and its surrounding cities are noted to have some of the most unpredictable weather in the country.
A Forbes.com article cites Springfield, Missouri as the wildest weather city in the country. This is because the city is elevated in the Ozarks at 1,266 feet and sits beneath unstable air (cooler air over warm air) which spurs high winds, including some tornadoes. The runners-up are listed as Topeka, Kansas, Rochester, Minnesota and Wichita, Kansas.
Coincidence? We think not. Winter weather especially is so unpredictable, but it’s kind of what we love about the snow industry. It leaves plenty up for the imagination and anything can happen, at any time.
Of course, we love the snow and are hoping for a very white winter… No question there!
What are you hoping for this winter?