What Kind of Winter Will We Have in Ohio?

Lots of people are asking. Here's a note from Tom:

From: Tom
Sent: Sunday, November 09, 2008 7:00 AM

Marshall - what is your prediction for the upcoming winter? Some snow, no snow, cold temps. - what do you think? I'm hearing from people a little of both. Tom

Mother nature always has a few tricks up her sleeve. But here's a link to NOAA's current outlooks:

Of course, there's always a catch. It only takes a small shift in the jet stream or ocean currents or sea surface temperatures (or a few extra flaps of a butterfly's wings) to completely change the outlooks/forecasts.

Right now, it looks like the polar jet's dip into the U.S. is going to stay far enough west of us to allow us have slightly above average temps and relatively normal precipitation.

To be honest, I never put much stock in the outlooks… ‘cause so much can change between now and then. But it's still a good, educated guess... until Mother Nature decides to throw us a curve ball.