OId Farmer’s Almanac – 3 Major Cold Snaps For Louisiana This Winter

(KMDL-FM) I am calling it; it's a new buzzword, a new trendy weather moniker; it's El Niño Snow. It's been all the rage among weather folks for the past couple of weeks now. The Old Farmer's Almanac is one of those "weather folks" that is now talking. And what they have to say about colder, wetter, snowier conditions in and around the Gulf South just might be worthy of your attention.

The Old Farmer's Almanac has released its winter outlook, and it, like many other forecast outlets, believes El Niño will play a role in how we celebrate Christmas, New Year's, and, most likely, Mardi Gras.

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If you're not familiar with why we are talking about snow and how it relates to a weather phenomenon that occurs along the equator, it won't take long to bring you up to speed.

What Is El Niño and Why Would it Bring Snow to Louisiana?

The El Niño "effect" occurs when sea surface temperatures in the tropical Pacific Ocean warm above their seasonal norms. The effects this has include a dilution of the Atlantic Hurricane Season since El Niño usually increases wind shear across the Gulf and Caribbean.

The effect also shifts the path and pattern of the jet streams, the high-velocity currents of air high above the Earth's surface that literally move weather systems around our globe.

NOAA.gov

The jet stream that provides the energy for moving most of those storm systems around the globe actually shifts southward during an El Niño period. This means the storm track slides further south, which, based on historical evidence, creates more storms for the West Coast and the Gulf Coast.

Here is where timing comes into play. If we get a wet weather system at the same time we are under frigid temperatures, then we'll get ice and snow, and the Old Farmer's Almanac seems to think that's going to be a thing in the Gulf South, but where?

weather.gov

In a nutshell, the OFA is calling for conditions to be warmer and drier in general, but the forecast does make three significant departures from that line of thinking. The OFA is suggesting South Louisiana will experience a major cold snap in Mid-December. That would be great right before Christmas, and we could stop sweating in our hot chocolate.

The next significant cold snap, according to the Old Farmer's forecast, will happen in Mid-January. That's about the time when South Louisiana experiences its coldest temperatures of the season, so this isn't much of a reach. But the third expected cold snap is where we might make headlines.

READ MORE: Weather Service Issues Winter Forecast for Louisiana

That third and final temperature plunge is forecast for Early February. Anything happening in Louisiana in early February next year? That's right, Mardi Gras will happen in the first week of the shortest month, and according to the OFA, daiquiris and Margaritas might not be the only things frozen on the parade route.

READ MORE: Super El Niño - How That Will Affect Louisiana's Winter Months

Only time will tell if the weather wizards at the Old Farmer's Almanac have nailed this forecast. By the way, they've been 100% on the tropical forecast this season, so don't discount this as quackery; it might be, but don't discount it.