Federal forecasters anticipate that the upcoming United States winter will likely experience lower snowfall and fewer extreme cold outbreaks
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) attributes these weather changes to the influence of El Nino and the warming effects of climate change
The winter outlook suggests that the northern United States is expected to be warmer than usual, while the southern regions are predicted to be wetter and stormier
Some storms that might have brought snow to the northern United States could turn into rain due to the forecasted warmth, but there is hope for snow lovers with the possibility of Nor'easters on the East Coast
The majority of the country is expected to experience above-average temperatures, with Alaska, the Pacific Northwest, and northern New England having the highest odds for warmer conditions
A large portion of the southern United States is predicted to be wetter, including the East Coast, the South below Tennessee, and regions stretching west through Texas, Kansas, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, and most of California
Conversely, the Great Lakes region and the northernmost parts of the country from Lake Erie to eastern Washington are forecasted to be drier than usual
El Nino, a periodic warming of parts of the Pacific Ocean, plays a significant role in altering weather patterns worldwide, especially in the United States during winter, affecting storm tracks and temperatures
Climate change is considered an additional factor contributing to the winter forecast, with global warming causing an average temperature increase of 1.6 degrees Fahrenheit over the past 40 years in the Lower 48 states
Some meteorologists outside of NOAA also predict a milder winter due to factors like Siberian snow cover and the strength of the polar vortex
suggesting that the East Coast may experience "weather whiplash" with limited snowfall, except for occasional significant snowstorms in the Mid-Atlantic