Abilene saw below-normal temperatures and above-average snowfall last winter. This year, meteorologists expect a warmer winter for the Big Country.
Patrick McCullough, meteorologist at the National Weather Service in San Angelo, said the temperature is constantly monitored by satellites. He said oceanic weather patterns helped contribute to last year’s extreme weather.
“An El Nino weather pattern year is when the surface water of the Equatorial Pacific Ocean is warmer and the jet stream pushes further south,” McCullough said. “This jet stream from the north brings more moisture and storms.”
McCullough said Abilene will experience La Nina conditions this winter, bringing warmer temperatures and less likelihood for snowfall.
“A La Nina weather pattern year is when the surface water of the Equatorial Pacific Ocean is cooler and jet stream pushes further north,” McCullough said. ” This jet stream from the south brings dryer, warmer weather.”
Matthew Groh, meteorologist at the National Weather Service in San Angelo said Abilene received 12 inches of snow last winter. For some students, last year’s snow was an anamoly from what they normally see.
Manki (Maggie) Kao, junior communications major from Hong Kong, said the weather in her home city is not as cool as Abilene, and she hopes this winter is not as cold the last.
” Winter in Hong Kong is pretty cool but not very cold, sometimes it rains but it’s not as dry as Abilene,” Kao said. “I think the temperatures in Abilene change a lot during day time and night time.”
Kao said she felt colder last year because it snowed a lot in Abilene, but never snows in Hong Kong.
Alain-Pierre Ntahonkiriye junior accounting major from Burundi, said he doesn’t know what to expect for the weather because Abilene weather seems to change everyday.
“I don’t know what to expect. In the morning I need a jacket, then at noon it will be so hot, and in the night it will be cold again,” Ntahonkiriye said. “Where I’m from it’s warm. Last year it was my second time to see snow; and I hope this year will be warmer, I don’t want to be cold, because I have to buy a lot of clothes.”
