How much snow will we see in CT this winter? See 4 predictions

CONNECTICUT – How cold and snowy will the coming winter be in Connecticut?

While winter officially begins on December 21st, meteorological winter began on December 1st.

Several forecasters have made their predictions about how snowy the season will be here in the Nutmeg State. And while it’s useful to be able to choose between appetizers and weapons, we’re not sure that’s the same with competing weather forecasts.

Anyway, here’s a look at what they say:

AccuWeather

An AccuWeather 2024-25 winter forecast predicts that most areas of the Northeast will get more snow this season than last winter.

It all starts this month in Connecticut, with a colder and snowier December than we’re used to. This will be followed by a new weather pattern in the first weeks of 2025 that will bring milder air and less snow in the eastern half of the country.

“La Niña will be weak for most of the winter,” said Paul Pastelok, senior meteorologist and long-range expert at AccuWeather. “A weaker La Niña may allow other signals to drive the pattern, leading to more variability in the winter.”

February is the most likely month for the arrival of a polar vortex – a large area of ​​cold, low-pressure air that rotates counterclockwise around the Earth’s poles and can expand in winter, pushing cold air south. However, this year there is less certainty about when and whether the extremely cold air will reach the US mainland

The Farmer’s Almanac

The 208th Edition of the Farmers’ Almanac predicts a “Wet Winter Whirlwind” for the 2024-2025 winter season. The forecast calls for quick storms bringing both rain and snow with brief downtime in between.

“We expect the winter of 2024-25 to be wet and cold in most locations,” The Farmers’ Almanac predicts.

Snow is expected in inland and mountainous areas, while sleet and rain are more likely in coastal areas, particularly along the Interstate 95 corridor.

The Farmers’ Almanac says there are “red flags” for most of the eastern half of the country during the last week of January. Expect a very active storm track with frequent heavy rainfall and strong gusty winds.

Above-average precipitation is expected for the Great Lakes, Ohio Valley and Midwest, according to the forecast.

The Old Farmer’s Almanac

The old farmer’s opinion is a little less bleak. This Almanac’s forecasts match the Old Farmers’ forecasts for warmer temperatures, but don’t worry about the amount of precipitation.

“This winter, temperatures will rise and snowfall will decrease across most of the United States,” said Carol Connare, editor in chief of the Old Almanac. “While there will still be plenty of cool temperatures and snow on most slopes, the high heating costs associated with the season are unlikely to be as significant.”

The Old Farmer’s Almanac divides Connecticut into two regions: The Northeast claims a small strip in the northwest corner of the state, while the remainder is classified as part of the Atlantic Corridor. Winter temperatures are expected to be above average in the first state and average to slightly above average in the rest of the state. Rainfall and snowfall are expected to be below normal in both regions.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Climate Prediction Center

Warmer than normal temperatures are expected in Connecticut this winter, according to NOAA’s 2024-25 winter forecast for December, January and February.

The outlook assumes the chance of above-average temperatures in the state is between 50 and 60 percent. There is a small portion of northwestern Connecticut that will see slightly more rain than normal.

Earlier this year, NOAA said data shows the development of a weak La Niña pattern that lacks some of the stormy force traditionally seen in such climate patterns. However, a La Niña “could still impact the forecast forecast,” NOAA said.

Temperatures are expected to be above normal across most of the Northeast and New England along the East Coast. Rainfall is expected to be above normal across much of the region.