by MICHAEL PIDWIRNY

Introduction

During the winter months of December, January, and February, the climate of the northwest USA and southern British Columbia is defined by cooling temperatures and increased precipitation. Temperatures cool mainly because of the Sun’s reduced heat energy. During these months, the intensity of the solar radiant energy declines because of lower Sun angles and a shortening of day length. Figure 1 describes the winter season’s average near-surface temperature (2 meters above ground level). Temperatures along the west coast are moderated by the stored heat energy found in the waters of the Pacific Ocean.

Figure 2 describes the typical patterns of winter precipitation in North America. High amounts of precipitation occur along much of the West Coast because of the interaction between mid-latitude cyclones and orographic uplift. During winter, mid-latitude cyclones often originate in the northeastern Pacific Ocean and then move in an easterly direction. Orographic enhancement of the quantity of precipitation falling from these storm systems occurs because of mountains running from Alaska to California. Central North America is relatively dry compared to the West Coast because most of the precipitable water held in the clouds of the mid-latitude cyclones previously precipitated out, and the cold continental air masses frequently found here retain little moisture.

Variation in year-to-year winter weather of the northwest USA and southern British Columbia is strongly influenced by several large-scale cyclic climate phenomena which modify large-scale atmospheric circulation and sea surface temperatures in the Pacific Ocean. Further, these climate factors significantly impact temperature and precipitation trends during the winter months over southern British Columbia and Washington state. Seesawing on a time scale of a few years are El Niño and La Niña events located along the tropical Pacific Ocean. El Niño – usually brings warmer-than-average winters and below-average precipitation to this area of the Pacific Northwest. La Niña – is often associated with cold winters with average to above-normal precipitation. Generally, the effects of significant El Niño and La Niña are limited to one or maybe two consecutive winter seasons. Operating on a much longer timescale of one to three decades is another cyclic climate factor of importance known as the Pacific Decadal Oscillation. The Pacific Decadal Oscillation alternates between a warm or a cold state, and these states seem to amplify the climatic effects of co-occurring El Niño and La Niña events, respectively.

El Niño

El Niño is the name given to the cyclical development of warm ocean surface waters on the east side of the Pacific Ocean at the equator. This climate event usually occurs around Christmas and usually lasts for a few weeks (weak) to a few months (strong). El Niño is created by a reduction in the speed of the Trade Winds right along the equator, which results in a shift in atmospheric circulation and pressure patterns in this region of the planet (Figure 3). Sometimes, an extremely warm El Niño can develop and last for more than a year. Since 1935, significant El Niño events have formed in 1958, 1966, 1978, 1983, 1987, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1998, 2005, 2010, 2016, and 2024. Figure 4 shows the general global patterns of winter surface temperature warming and cooling associated with El Niño.

La Niña

La Niña is the name given to the cyclical development of cold ocean surface waters on the east side of the Pacific Ocean at the equator. Like El Niño, a La Niña climate event usually occurs around Christmas and lasts typically for a few weeks (weak) to a few months (strong). La Niña is created by an increase in the speed of the Trade Winds along the equator, which results in a shift in atmospheric circulation and pressure patterns in this region of the planet (Figure 5). Sometimes, an extremely cold La Niña can develop and last for more than a year. Since 1935, significant La Niñas have occurred in 1950, 1956, 1967, 1971, 1974, 1976, 1999, 2008, 2011, and 2021. Figure 6 shows the general global patterns of winter surface temperature cooling and warming associated with La Niña.

Figure 7 shows the relative strength of El Niño and La Niña events from 1930 to March 2022, according to the Southern Oscillation Index (SOI). In this figure, negative values indicate El Niño conditions, with lower values suggesting stronger events. High positive values indicate significant La Niña events.

The Pacific Decadal Oscillation

The Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) is a cyclical ocean-atmosphere climate variability pattern in the North Pacific Ocean. The PDO is detected as a change in sea surface temperatures over the Pacific Ocean from 20 to 60° North latitude. There are two phases that can last many years to several decades, as shown in Figure 8. During the warm or positive phase, sea surface temperatures in the western North Pacific Ocean become cooler, while the eastern side of this ocean warms (Figure 9). The warm phase results in a zone of warm seawater hugging the west coast of North America from Alaska down to the Baja Peninsula. During the cold or negative phase, sea surface temperatures in the western North Pacific Ocean become warmer, while the eastern part of this ocean cools down (Figure 10). Significant reversals in the prevailing phase of the PDO have occurred around 1956, 1960, 1976, 1997, 2013, and 2019 (Figure 8).

Forecast Winter 2024/25

Weak La Niña conditions are now observed over the equatorial Pacific (Figure 11). Computer models suggest weak La Niña conditions will continue from January to March 2025.

The Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) index from January 2018 to September 20241 is shown in Figure 12 (and see web page Monthly PDO Index). From the summer of 2018 until fall 2019 the monthly PDO index rose from near zero to around +1.0. A sudden decline into negative territory occurred in October 2019, then a rebound to higher values in November and December, and mainly negative values from January 2020 to September 2024. 

In conclusion, current patterns associated with La Niña and the Pacific Decadal Oscillation suggest that the climate of the winter of 2024/25 will be colder than normal, with higher than average precipitation for southern British Columbia and western Alberta.

 

Climate Prediction Center – North American Multi-Model Ensemble Long-Range Monthly Forecasts – November 2024

There is one more critical piece of information that can provide insight into what the winter season will be like in the Pacific Northwest USA and southern British Columbia in 2024/25. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Prediction Center creates long-range seasonal forecasts based on the average of seven different General Circulation Model simulations. Figure 13 describes the November surface mean temperature forecast for North America released in October 2024. This forecast suggests temperatures will be 0.5 to 2.0°C above-normal for British Columbia, Alberta, Washington state, eastern Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Utah, and Colorado.

 

Figure 14 describes the November precipitation forecast for North America from the Climate Prediction Center released in October 2024. This forecast suggests well above-normal precipitation for southern British Columbia and western Washington State. California, southern Oregon, Idaho, and southern Montana will see below-normal precipitation.

Climate Prediction Center – North American Multi-Model Ensemble Long-Range Seasonal Forecasts – December  2024 

Figures 15 and 16 describe December 2024 forecasts of surface mean temperature and precipition for North America released in November 2024. The December forecast suggests near-normal temperatures for southern British Columbia, western Alberta, Washington State, and Oregon (Figure 15). While Montana, Idaho, California, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado will see above-normal temperatures.

Above-normal precipitation is forecasted for December for most of British Columbia, Washington State, northern Idaho, and Oregon north (Figure 16). While California, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado will see below-normal precipitation.

 

Climate Prediction Center – North American Multi-Model Ensemble Long-Range Seasonal Forecasts – January  2025 

The January 2025 forecast suggests temperatures will be below-normal for  British Columbia, Alberta, Washington State, and most of Montana (Figure 17). While southern Oregon, California, southern Idaho, southern Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Nevada, New Mexico, and Colorado will see normal to above-normal temperatures.

Figure 18 describes the January 2025 precipitation rate forecasts for North America, released in November 2024. The January forecast suggests precipitation will be above normal for southern Alberta, Washington state, Oregon, northern Idaho, northern Wyoming, western Colorado, and Montana. Below-normal precipitation will occur in the southwest corner of British Columbia, California, west Nevada, and southern New Mexico. Elsewhere, precipitation conditions will be near normal.

Climate Prediction Center – North American Multi-Model Ensemble Long-Range Seasonal Forecasts – February  2025 

The February 2025 forecast suggests temperatures will be near average for southern British Columbia, western Alberta, Washington State, and most of Oregon (Figure 18). Above-normal temperatures will be seen in California, south Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Nevada, New Mexico, and Colorado.

Figure 19 describes North America’s February 2025 precipitation forecasts, released in November 2024. The February forecast suggests precipitation will be above-normal for southern Alberta, south-eastern British Columbia, Washington State, Oregon, Idaho, northern Wyoming, and Montana. Below-normal precipitation will occur in California, southern Nevada, Arizona, and New Mexico. Elsewhere, precipitation conditions will be near normal.