Did Someone Order Up a Dry December? 🌵

The pattern has once again flipped back to a drier La Niña pattern.

We’re through the first week of December and almost to the time of later sunsets (which always puts this storm chasers’ heart at ease) — but before we get to Spring we do have a winter season to get through. Let’s talk about it…

1. Dry December on Tap

Summary: Persistent ridging over the Southwest will push the jet stream up and over the Southern and Central Plains as well. This will result in a pattern that is forecast to remain pretty dry through the middle of the month.

Zooming In: This is a pattern that’s pretty typical of a La Niña winter.

• Warm/Dry Southwest: Typically in a La Niña winter, a ridge sets up bringing warmer/drier conditions in the southwest with the jet stream amplifying further east. This can lead to wetter conditions in the Midwest and northeast (and in winter’s case, snowier conditions).

• Plains Battleground: Often in these types of patterns, the Central/Southern Plains see a huge gradient …