Winter 2019 Forecast Released For Illinois

The National Weather Service has released the forecast for Winter 2019, and Illinois, and the rest of the country, will have warmer than normal conditions. The NOAA's Climate Prediction Center is anticipating above average temperatures for December through February.

The U.S. temperature outlook shows Illinois has a 33 to 40 percent chance of warmer than normal temperatures. In the Chicagoland area, the NWS said there is a 33 to 40 percent chance of a drier than normal winter. The rest of Illinois has an equal chance for a wet or dry winter.

The NWS said there is also a 70 to 75 percent chance for El Nino to develop.

“We expect El Nino to be in place in late fall to early winter,” said Mike Halpert, deputy director of NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center. “Although a weak El Nino is expected, it may still influence the winter season by bringing wetter conditions across the southern United States, and warmer, drier conditions to parts of the North.”

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