With winter just around the corner, it begs the question: What kind of winter is in store for western Illinois? Illinois State Climatologist Trent Ford says to expect abundant precipitation and frequent winter storms.
“We are in a La Niña pattern right now, and typically this time of year- really more December, January, and February- that tends to paint us a bit wetter than normal. So, a more active storm track and maybe better chances for some winter storms,” says Ford. “Temperatures tend to be quite variable when it comes to La Niña. We can get those cold air outbreaks, but we can also get more mild temperatures. That’s really what I would expect for this winter: abundant precipitation, probably pretty frequent winter storms, but also a bit of a temperature roller coaster.”
Ford adds that winter precipitation will help recharge soil moisture in parts of the state affected by the fall drought.
