Strong El Niño Expected to Influence North American Winter Weather

Why it matters locally: While the forecast primarily highlights impacts on the Southern U.S., West Virginia's winter weather patterns can also be indirectly affected by large-scale climate phenomena like El Niño, potentially influencing local snowfall and temperatures.

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Climatologists forecast a strong phase of the El Niño climate pattern, commonly referred to as a 'Super El Niño,' to significantly influence winter weather across North America. This pattern typically intensifies during the winter months, altering both precipitation and temperature across the region. Researchers predict this strong El Niño will increase the probability of winter precipitation throughout the Southern United States. The pattern also impacts hurricane season activity. Forecasters have identified several states as susceptible to considerable snowfall and extreme weather occurrences during the upcoming winter season.