Michigan Is Primed for ‘Almost Unprecedented’ La Niña Year

A lot has been said about the El Niño, and La Niña weather cycles that greatly affect the weather patterns in Michigan. It's strange to think that something so far away could have such a profound effect on us, more than 2,000 miles away from the Pacific Ocean, but it does.

El Niño has been hovering over the Pacific Ocean for almost the past two full years, which has resulted in warmer-than-usual winters, and drier-than-usual summers. But it seems that time is over, and now Michigan, and the rest of the country are primed for an "almost unprecedented" La Niña year.

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Researchers have confirmed that La Niña has formed in the Pacific Ocean, and should be affecting the weather soon enough, with early signs already taking place. But now, researchers say we might also have a La Niña system forming in the Atlantic Ocean.

Whereas we usually see a La Niña system alternate every few years with La Niño in the Pacific Ocean, it's been more than a decade since the Atlantic Ocean has seen a La Niña system, which is confirmed when sea surface temperatures are much warmer than average.

Thankfully, a La Niña system in the Atlantic only barely affects weather systems in the U.S., and actually has more of an impact on northeastern Brazil, and western Africa. But that system can also affect hurricanes that move west into the Gulf of Mexico and into North America.

As for us in Michigan, we're just keeping an eye on the one in the Pacific right now, which should bring us much more precipitation and a much colder winter than we've been used to the past few years.

So Michigan might actually feel more like Michigan this winter, and we'll be able to build actual snowmen around Christmas, instead of hoping there's enough mud to create a dirt ball man.

Will La Niña continue into next year though? It's difficult to tell, but I think we could certainly use a break from the heat advisories in the Great Lakes we've seen over the past few years.