2011-2012 Winter Forecast/Outlook

Right off the bat i can say it going to be a cold and stormy winter. We are currently experiencing a la nina in the central Pacific and it is forecast to stay that way the rest of the winter. This occurs when the sea surface temps are 3-5 degrees below normal. The same was noted last year and the historic winters of 2008 and 2009. La ninas do lead to warm early falls, which has occured (8.1degrees above normal for many) so confidence is even higher. Basically, it will be below normal winter with a above average snowfall, for the midwest.