NOAA National Weather Service Winter Outlook For North Dakota

NOAA/National Weather Service's Winter Outlook for North Dakota has been revealed.

It varies quite a bit from both the Farmer's Almanac and Old Farmer's Almanac for our state.  Both of those services predict another harsh winter forecast for North Dakota.  Their data is based more on the sun, astronomical, and math formulas.  Both of those forecasts are saying the brrrr will be back in North Dakota this winter.

After over 100 inches of snow, ice, and cold last winter in Bismarck, that wasn't exactly the news we were hoping to hear in south-central North Dakota.

NOAA, which stands for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, also issues seasonal forecasts each year. 

The National Weather Service is a division or agency of NOAA.  We have two of those agencies in North Dakota.  One in Grand Forks and the other right here in Bismarck.

Thankfully, NOAA's winter forecast looks a lot different than both the Farmer's Almanac and Old Farmer's Almanac's winter forecast for North Dakota.

El Nino is expected to persist through our winter which will bring us warmer than average temperatures this winter.

Welcome news for most of us living in North Dakota.  In fact, I would love a winter where I would only use the snowblower a few times rather than just about daily like last year.  That might be the case this season.

El Nino is also expected to make our snowfall a little bit below average too. 

That may not be good news for snowmobilers and skiers but I for one will take it.

Here's a look at the next 5 months of temperatures from NOAA.

Here's a look at the next 5 months for precipitation from NOAA.

Warmer and less snow for North Dakota this winter.  I for one will take it.  Let's hope NOAA and the National Weather Service are right and the Farmer's and Old Farmer's Almanacs are wrong.