Meteorological Winter Starts Sunday: Record Snow & What La Niña Means

CALIFORNIA, CA — How cold and wet will the upcoming winter be in California, and where will the snow fall — if at all?

With the start of the winter season just around the corner, Mammoth Mountain just experienced its snowiest November since 2010 — with a big storm dumping roughly 50 inches of snow on the resort earlier this week, the National Weather Service said Thursday.

Meteorological winter begins on Sunday, Dec. 1, and astronomical winter begins on Dec. 21 — which is the date of the winter solstice and the shortest day of the year.

According to NWS meteorologists, Mammoth Mountain's first big storm of the season will usher in forecasts of rain and snow across California — even before the arrival of astronomical winter.

One of the major elements considered by long-range meteorologists when crafting the winter forecast was La Niña, according to AccuWeather.

This phenomenon occurs when water temperatures near the equator in the eastern Pacific Ocean remain below the historical average for an extended period, which can significantly influence weather patterns across North America, including the trajectory of snowstorms.

According to AccuWeather, the weather event will bring cold, wet and snowy weather to much of the country.

"I think skiing in the West is looking really good," AccuWeather senior meteorologist and long-range expert Paul Pastelok said. "I think it's going to get kick-started right for the holiday season," he said.

SEE ALSO: Kids Ski Free At These California Mountains For One Week In December

However, La Niña can be unpredictable. What was expected to be a dry La Niña winter in 2023 brought unprecedented blizzard conditions to Southern California, burying mountain communities under 10 feet of snow. This winter, experts expect a shift between wet and dry conditions over the course of the winter in parts of the state, and forecasters at the National Weather Service and the Farmer's Almanac differ on what to expect.

RELATED: 'Atmospheric Rivers' Predicted Early And Often In CA This Winter: AccuWeather Forecast

According to the AccuWeather 2024-25 winter forecast — released in October — atmospheric rivers and storms from the Pacific Ocean will focus on Northern California before tracking over the Rocky Mountains as winter progresses.

The new pattern will open the door for storms to track farther south over Central and Southern California and push inland, AccuWeather reported.

January may be the wettest month of the winter for Los Angeles, Orange County and San Diego, as well as the Inland Empire, weather officials said.

According to Farmer's Almanac 2024-25 winter forecast, the weather event is expected to bring cold and wet weather to most of the country throughout winter.

AccuWeather forecasters expect another shift in February, as storms re-focus on Northern California.

"As a result, the ski season could come to an early end at the ski resorts in the mountains of Southern California, northern Arizona and New Mexico," AccuWeather predicted.

RELATED: Winter 2024-25 Forecast For CA: How Cold And Snowy Will It Be?

According to the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration's Climate Predicate Center's winter 2024-25 outlook, forecasters predict below-normal precipitation in the bottom half of the state for December, January and February.

While two-thirds of the Golden State shows equal chances on the precipitation front, SoCal is leaning toward below average, according to the report.

What precipitation California does receive this winter is based largely off of a La Niña climate pattern, which is expected to bring average temperatures and precipitation to California this coming winter.

RELATED: Here's What La Niña Could Mean For Winter Temps, Rainfall In CA

However, in California, residents were told to expect drier winters with less rainfall and snowfall than in previous years, along with an increased risk of wildfires, according to the report.

Northern Californians may also experience below-average precipitation, but the pattern is less predictable, according to forecasters. Some areas could still see periods of heavy rainfall.