Triple threat La Niña for 2022-23 Winter?

[nWo]

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released an updated outlook Thursday that said there was a 91 percent chance the pattern would be in control through November and a 54 percent chance through March 2023. 

During a typical La Niña winter, the southern tier of the country tends to be drier and warmer, and the northern half is usually colder and snowier than usual.

Where moisture and temperature extremes meet, areas can resemble battle zones. If the right ingredients are in place, tornado outbreaks can impact the South and the country’s heartland.

"Preliminary research indicates that La Niña corresponds to an especially active phase for tornadoes over the Deep South with a relatively high frequency of cold-season outbreaks of EF2 or stronger tornadoes," the National Weather Service office in Jackson, Mississippi, said. 

The combination of an active jet stream, plenty of moisture and a clash of air masses helped produce a record-breaking deadly tornado outbreak in December 2021. The outbreak included a rare EF-4 long-track tornado that flatted parts of Mayfield, Kentucky. NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center believes the La Niña three-peat will be only the third time on record for the occurrence. 

For now Kentucky looks like it will be in the battle zone. We could see systems that could produce snow and ice storms along with possible severe weather. So we could be in for a wild ride this upcoming winter. Nothing can be counted out include severe weather outbreaks.