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How Much Snow Will Boston and New England Get This Winter? NOAA Unveils Its Winter Outlook

The latest projections were released Thursday for December through February

What to Know

  • The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts a mild season for the majority of the United States.
  • Even during a warmer-than-average winter, cold weather is expected and some areas could still see a colder than average winter
  • Higher-than-average precipitation is likely in some parts of the country, but not New England

It looks like this winter could be a bit milder than usual, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Winter Outlook unveiled Thursday.

Warmer-than-average temperatures are likely across much of the U.S. this winter, according to the NOAA Climate Prediction Center's Winter Outlook for December through February.

temperature
NOAA

The Climate Prediction Center notes that even during a warmer-than-average winter, cold weather is expected and some areas could still see a colder than average winter.

"Without either El Nino or La Nina conditions, short-term climate patterns like the Arctic Oscillation will drive winter weather and could result in large swings in temperature and precipitation," said Mike Halpert, deputy director of NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center.

The greatest likelihood for warmer-than-normal conditions are in Alaska and Hawaii, with more modest probabilities for above-average temperatures spanning large parts of the remaining 48 states, from the west, to the south and all the way up the eatern seaboard.

But what about snow?

Higher-than-average precipitation is most likely in Alaska and Hawaii as well, along with portions of the Northern Plains, Upper Mississippi Valley, the Great Lakes and parts of the Mid-Atlantic and the Northeast.

precipitation
NOAA

NOAA's Winter Outlook does not include New England in the wetter-than-normal category.

The Climate Prediction Center updates its three-month outlook each month, with the next expected update scheduled for Nov. 21.

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