National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

Severe Weather and Heavy Rain from the Ohio Valley to the Mid-Atlantic; Heat Persists in the South-Central U.S.

Widespread strong thunderstorms with damaging winds and locally heavy rain are expected across portions of the Ohio Valley into southern Mid-Atlantic and Carolinas. Rounds of strong thunderstorms are expected to develop across the northern and central Plains. Sweltering heat remains most persistent across the South-Central Plains and Lower/Middle Mississippi Valley through next week. Read More >

A La Niña Watch has been issued by the Climate Prediction Center. There is a 50-55% chance of La Niña conditions developing this fall and continuing through the winter.

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Below is a map of the typical effect La Niña has on the November-March temperatures in the United States. The yellow and orange colors indicate areas where temperatures often average warmer than normal during a La Niña winter:

La Nina temperature anomalies

 

 

Here is a map showing the typical effect La Niña has on November-March precipitation. The blue and green colors in the Ohio Valley indicate a tendency toward wetter than normal conditions:

La Nina precipitation anomalies

 

It is important to remember:

  • The influence of La Niña on the Ohio Valley is not very strong
  • Every La Niña is different, and not all La Niña winters behave the same way
  • The strength of the La Niña may make a difference in how it affects our weather both in terms of precipitation and temperature  (so far, this La Niña is expected to be weak)
  • There are myriad factors that work together to result in the weather we experience -- La Niña is just one of them