StormTracker8 Winter Weather Outlook

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- The StormTracker8 Winter Weather Outlook is here and for snow lovers this is not the forecast that you have been waiting for. 

As you might have heard, we are entering a La Nina phase, but this is expected to be a weak La Nina and it should end by the end of January to early February -- at which point we will go into a neutral phase.

There are many other factors at play, such as the current snowpack over Siberia, which is less than normal for this time of year. We also look at the development of the Polar Vortex, and whether or not we will see a Sudden Stratospheric Warming event, and if we will be in a positive or negative phase of the North Atlantic Oscillation during those shifts.

Taking all of that into account, we expect a slightly warmer than normal winter season, which is December, January and February, with an average temperature of 40.65 degrees which is 0.25 degrees above normal.

As far as snowfall goes, the average snowfall for Richmond for a year is 8.8”, and we expect 6” to 7” for the season.  So that is a little lower than normal.  Most of that snow should come from one good storm, which could happen during the middle to end of January as La Nina breaks down.

Also, there is concern for a potential Ice Storm, west of Interstate 95 in late January as La Nina ends and the Polar Vortex sinks south, giving an arctic chill over the eastern third of the country. 

Finally, for those dreaming of a white Christmas, our trend of green Christmases looks to continue.