La Niña Winter

You may have heard some weathermen talking about how LA NINA is coming this winter, and may have wondered what they were talking about. I mean after all, you just learned about EL NINO, when they now start talking about LA NINA. Well LA NINA is EL NINO's twin sister. In an EL NINO year, the pacific ocean's water temperature rises, but in a LA NINA year the reverse happens--the temperature actually decreases.

Now that we know what LA NINA is, we can learn a little bit about its affects on the United States. Not much is known about the affects of LA NINA, but the scientists have a general idea of what may occur in the United States. This will be updated often, so check back for the lastest predictions.

NORTHWEST--Wet and dreary
SOUTHWEST--Hot and Dry. May make for a bad wildire season
MIDWEST--More aggresively severe cold shots than in recent years
SOUTHERN PLAINS--I am still looking into this region. Check back soon to find out.
SOUTHEAST--Warmer and drier than last year.
MIDATLANTIC--Pretty much up for grabs, some years are mild, but last LA NINA brought a lot of snow.
NORTHEAST--Same as MIDWEST

**NOTE- This is a prediction made on past LA NINAs. Nothing is garuanteed.**

EL NINO YEARS

: 1902, 1905, 1911, 1914, 1918, 1923, 1925, 1930, 1932, 1939, 1941, 1951, 1953, 1957, 1965, 1969, 1972, 1976, 1982, 1986, 1991, 1994, 1997

LA NINA YEARS

: 1904, 1908, 1910, 1916, 1924, 1928, 1938, 1950, 1955, 1964, 1970, 1973, 1975, 1988, 1995

Tish's Fort Smith Winter Forcast

I have done research on some past major winter storms that have hit Ft. Smith, and crossed referenced them with LA NINA years and here are my results. I am still in the process of looking deeper into the records, so bear with me. This will be updated, and soon I hope. Enjoy.

In 1988 a decent sized LA NINA took shape. On January 6, one of the most widespread snowstorms to hit Oklahoma and Arkansas. A foot of snow fell on Oklahoma City and Little Rock. Ft. Smith received 11 inches, while Fayetville got 8 inches.

In 1975, another decently sized LA NINA took shape. On December 24-25, 7.2 inches of snow fell on Ft. Smith, and 4 inches in Fayetville.