A Shot of Cold and for Some, Snow.

A deep trough is digging over the Great Lakes region of the nation allowing the coldest air of the season to arrive for locations east of the Mississippi River. Though it may seem like a shock, it is not unusual as the growing season typically ends in mid to late October for much of the Midwest. Areas from Minnesota to the central Ohio have seen their first snow flakes of the season and more areas will have an opptertunity to see snow flakes through the end of the week. No major storms are expected through the period but those areas downwind of the Great Lakes may pick up a few inches. The tough is still expect to weaken early next week and areas of the upper Ohio Valley should approach normal by mid week.

  

This may be a good time to discuss this up coming winter predictions.  Currently the ENSO (El Nino/La Nina index) is neutral and is not expected to influence this winter season. NOAA is predicting a near normal winter for temperatures and precipitation in the Ohio Valley.

 Accuweather is predicting an active weather track through the Ohio Valley which could deliver plenty of snow and or rain, depending on which side the front you lie on (here).

The Old Farmer's Almanac is predicting slightly milder than normal temperatures and a below average snowfall this winter (here).

Lastly, the the woollybears of Northeast Ohio are predicting an early cold and snowy start to winter which will moderate at the beginning of January followed by a early spring.

I tend to stay away from long range forecasts but after two consecutive warmer than normal and less snowy than normal winters in Northeast Ohio, odds point to a typical winter this season. Stay tuned and lets see if by January what type of adjustments are need for the predictions.