Low pressure records were shattered over Minnesota and Wisconsin as a very strong cyclone moved through the Western Great Lakes.  Some new pressure records included 28.21″ at Bigfork, MN…28.35″ at Duluth, MN…28.23″ at International Falls, MN…and 28.39″ at Superior, WI.  Standard atmospheric pressure at sea level is 29.92″.  Here is a satellite photo of the storm during the late afternoon of October 26, 2010…also a surface weather map during the peak of the storm.

The "Bomb" of 2010

Surface weather map

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Here is the official outlook from the Climate Prediction Center for the Winter of 2010-2011.  As you may notice, Iowa is supposed to have near normal temperature and precipitation.

Here is a link to the CPC text…

http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2010/20101021_winteroutlook.html

Winter 2010-2011 Temperature Outlook

Winter 2010-2011 Precipitation Outlook

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The weather pattern has changed from last year to this year.  During the fall and winter of 2009 there was a strong El Nino (warmer than normal ocean water) in the equatorial Pacific.  Now, in a rather sudden shift, a fairly strong La Nina (colder than normal ocean water) has developed.  What does this mean for our weather?  La Nina autumns tend to be warmer than normal in the Midwest.  There is also a strong signal for drier than normal weather.

La Nina Autumn Temperatures

La Nina Autumn Precipitation

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