La Niña Possible For 2017--Cold Winter For Midwest

[JIvers]

After last year's El Niño killed a good portion of my ice-fishing season, the NOAA is now saying there is the chance of a La Niña for the coming winter. https://www.climate.gov/news-features/featured-images/la-ni%C3%B1a-coming-deep-pool-cool-water-making-its-way-across-tropical

La Niñas typically bring cooler than normal winters to the Mdiwest, along with heavier than normal snowfall. For the purposes of this forum that would be a mixed blessing for ice-fishing in 2016-17, but more good than bad, unless we got a lot of snow.

[BringAnExtension]

Nice, hoping I can start ice fishing on Thanksgiving weekend again this year.

[rundrave]

hopefully cooler weather means cool dry weather. last winter was warm and less dry for us is SE SD so more moisture in the air meant we got more snow.

i would prefer to have cool and dry myself.

[YettiStyle]

According to the latest models, there is a 75% chance of a La Nina forming sometime this fall/winter.  The severity of it is still unknown but it hinges mainly on when the latest strong El Nino dissipates.  Some are saying that we are heading for a very strong La Nina with much colder than average temps and increased storm activity in the ice belt.  That being said, even a mild La Nina will present much more favorable ice conditions than last year. 

 

The only downfall of having any sort of La Nina is that it usually creates drought conditions on the south-west coast ie: California.  I'm sure everyone here is just thrilled to hear more about all of their problems in the media....  Looks like we'll all just have to spend more time in our ice shacks, isolated from mainstream media.