The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released its U.S. Winter Outlook on Thursday, leaning toward a warmer, wetter winter ahead for Connecticut.
NOAA said this winter favors warmer-than-average temperatures and wetter-than-normal conditions. In Connecticut, that means the state will likely see more wintry-mixed events, with more sleet and freezing rain, compared to all snow.
Although big snowstorms will be less likely, they can still occur.
El Niño, the extremely warm ocean water in the Pacific Ocean near the equator, will be the main driving force this winter, likely giving much of the East Coast wet weather conditions.
With El Niño pumping warmer air into the atmosphere, it sets Connecticut up to get frequent storms, many of which will bring a wintry mix or rain.
Specific snowstorm forecasts are not released in these outlooks because it’s too uncertain, but previous El Niños like this one have led to far-below-average snowfall in Connecticut.
