McCoy predicts cold, wet winter weather

Van Wert independent/EMA information

With Van Wert County and northwest Ohio starting to see what is normally some of the best weather of the year, County EMA Director Rick McCoy is cautioning that winter could be something altogether different.

Nice fall days are anticipated for September and October, McCoy said, who added he is a bit concerned, though, that another rough winter is ahead for the county.

The EMA director said he has been watching the tropical Pacific waters for a month now after the National Weather Service issued a La Niña Watch for the upcoming season. On Monday, he received notice from the Weather Service that it has issued a La Niña Advisory, indicating this weather phenomenon has re-emerged and will gradually strengthen and continue into winter.

“It was this same pattern that gave us the rough winter this past season, with severe storms and flooding rains continuing into the spring,” McCoy said. “I think that everything is pointing towards a winter very similar to this last one, with lots of snow and very cold temperatures.”

La Niña years often see drier than normal conditions across the southern United States and wetter than normal conditions in the Ohio Valley. It also results in colder than normal temperatures across the northern plains. McCoy said this last spells big trouble for Texas and Oklahoma, as drought conditions could worsen there over the winter.

For the Van Wert area, similar conditions to last year would bring below normal temperatures and above normal precipitation, he said. This past season, December included temperatures as low as 7 degrees, with 7.5  inches of snow. In January, temperatures dropped to a frigid minus 4 degrees, with 12.85 inches of snow. February bottomed out at minus 11 degrees with an impressive 23.5 inches of snow, while March began to moderate, with temperatures still hitting a low of 17 degrees, but less snow at 1.10 inches.  McCoy said last year’s winter season dumped a total of 44.95 inches of snow on the county.

After the cold and wet winter, La Niña then caused flooding rains in April and May that hampered the farm planting season, not to mention severe weather — including four tornadoes that hit the county.

The EMA director noted that climate forecasters with the National Weather Service are giving Americans valuable advance notice prior to the winter months so that they can plan and prepare for a potential rough season at a time when extreme weather is on the rise.

“With more computer technology and advanced satellites and weather sensors, forecasting is getting more advanced and better in helping save lives and property,” McCoy said.

With the current advisory in affect, the EMA director said he sees the upcoming season being quite similar to last year.