Downtown Washington in February 2015. Photo by Sally Y. Hart

El Nino is defined as a disruption of the ocean-atmosphere system in the Tropical Pacific having consequences for weather and climate around the globe according to the the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Iowa’ state climatologist Harry Hillaker explains this usually means a mild winter for Iowa. However, nothing is guaranteed and the last El Nino winter was in 2009 to 2010 and it was the exception, with a long, snowy winter. While the chance of snowfall may be less, Hillaker says we may see more rain events over the winter months than in recent years.

According to the National Weather Service, Washington usually receives just under two feet of snow in a calendar year. Earlier this year, in February we received 15 inches of powder.