It will feel like an extended winter for those living from the northern Plains to the eastern U.S., as cold and snowy conditions stretch into spring 2017.
Meanwhile, drier and milder weather will focus on the majority of the southern half of the nation. The Southeast may mark the exception as a chilly January threatens to damage the region's citrus crop.
JUMP TO: Frequent storms to bring above-normal snowfall to northeastern US|Damaging freeze may threaten citrus crop in southeastern US | Bitter cold to grip the northern Plains, Midwest | Winter to get late start across southern Plains, Gulf Coast | Early storms to blast Northwest, northern California | Dry, warm season in store for Southern California, Southwest.
Frequent storms to bring above-normal snowfall to northeastern US
Frequent storms across the northeastern U.S. this winter may lead to an above-normal season for snowfall.
"I think the Northeast is going to see more than just a few, maybe several, systems in the course of the season," AccuWeather Long-Range Forecaster Paul Pastelok said.
Unlike last season, in which most of winter's snowfall came from a few heavy-hitting storms, this winter will last into the early or middle part of spring and will feature frequent snow events.
According to Pastelok, accumulation may be limited in areas south of New York City, such as Philadelphia, D.C. and Baltimore. These areas will see a handful of changeover systems, where falling snow transitions to rain and sleet.
"But still, Boston, Hartford, along the coastal areas up into Connecticut and southern New England, they can still have a fair amount of snow," he said.
Overall, it's predicted that the region will total a below-normal number of subzero days, though the temperature will average 3-5 degrees Fahrenheit lower than last year.
Let's hope that got the above right, only 78 days till the Season Starts:
BRING ON THE SNOW !!