What Kind Of Winter Will Colorado Have This Year?

ACROSS COLORADO– Winter has officially arrived with the Winter Solstice on Friday and meteorologists are offering a fresh look at what the season has in store for Colorado. The Weather Company says it will be colder than normal in January, and about normal (in the 40s during the day) in February and March.

That company’s forecast calls for below-normal temperatures across the eastern and much of the southern United States, but the northwest third of the country is expected to see a mild winter. The most significant cold — relative to what is normal — will be across the southeastern U.S., according to that forecast.

Todd Crawford, the chief meteorologist for The Weather Company, said that after an unusually cold stretch from mid-October to mid-December, much of the country is experiencing moderate temperatures typical of an El Nino weather pattern. But he said it could turn sharply colder in January and February.

Here’s the outlook for 2019 from The Weather Company, which is an IBM company:

January

• Northeast: Colder than normal
• Southeast: Colder than normal
• North Central: Warmer than normal
• South Central: Colder than normal
• Northwest: Warmer than normal
• Southwest: Warmer than normal west, colder than normal east

February

• Northeast: Colder than normal
• Southeast: Colder than normal
• North Central: Colder than normal
• South Central: Colder than normal
• Northwest: Warmer than normal
• Southwest: Warmer than normal

March

• Northeast: Warmer than normal
• Southeast: Colder than normal
• North Central: Warmer than normal
• South Central: Colder than normal
• Northwest: Warmer than normal
• Southwest: Colder than normal

Long-range forecasts can differ as wildly as the winter weather, of course. There are some major differences.

The Old Farmer’s Almanac, often considered the source of one of the most accurate forecasts, calls for above-normal temperatures in most parts of the United States, except for the Southwest, which the Old Farmer’s Almanac said will see a colder-than-normal winter.

Precipitation will be above normal for most of the country, with the exception of the Southeast, southern California, the nation’s midsection, and parts of Alaska and Hawaii, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac.

But that may not necessarily translate to more snow in areas that typically get snow, the Old Farmer’s Almanac said, with possible exceptions in the interior West and parts of the Midwest.

"Winter temperatures and precipitation will be above normal, on average, with the coldest periods in late December, early January, and early February," the Old Farmer's Almanac said about the intermountain west. "Snowfall will be below normal in the south, with the snowiest periods in late November, late December, early and late January, mid to late February, and early March."

The Farmer’s Almanac calls for bone-chilling winter weather in mid-February, especially in the Northeast and New England, the Great Lakes, Ohio Valley, Midwest and the Southeast. Beginning in January and continuing through February, the Farmer’s Almanac predicts plenty of snow in Great Lakes states, the Midwest, and central and northern New England.

Some highlights from the Farmer’s Almanac prediction:

• Colder-than-normal conditions from the Continental Divide east through the Appalachians.
• Above-normal snowfall predicted for Great Lakes, Midwest, New England, Pacific Northwest
• Frigid weather is expected in mid-February, which may also bring blustery and bitter winds, widespread snow showers, especially in areas east of the Continental Divide.
• Along the East Coast, winter won’t give up when spring officially arrives on March 20, 2019.

The Farmer's Almanac predicts that Colorado will have rain and showers the first two weeks of January, with a snowstorms bringing a "hefty dose of snow, or snow mixed with ice, plain rain," followed by "a big storm emerging out of Gulf of Mexico gives the region a glancing blow; frigid Arctic air pours out of Canada."

Finally, climate forecasters with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration say a weak El Nino favors a mild winter for most of the United States, with above-normal temperatures likely across the northern and western United States, Alaska and Hawaii.

A weak El Nino may bring wetter conditions to the southern United States, and warmer and drier conditions to parts of the northern U.S.

The especially good news in that forecast: No area of the United States is expected to have below-normal temperatures.

By Beth Dalbey, Patch Staff

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