NOAA's winter outlook is out: Will we see snow in the DMV?

WASHINGTON (7News) — On Thursday, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) released its annual winter outlook.

We already know there's a high likelihood of El Niño impacting our weather this winter, but every El Niño is different. This is why we turn to these outlooks to get a better idea of what to expect heading into the cold months.

Could we see more snow this winter?

In terms of precipitation, the CPC is predicting what could be near normal, to slightly above normal during the months from December through February. Keep in mind, that during the winter months, precipitation can mean frozen or liquid. With average temperatures in the 30s and 40s, it's possible a storm or two could bring measurable snowfall to the region.

Winter could be slightly warmer than average

When it comes to temperatures, the CPC is indicating what could be slightly above normal from December through February.

So what does all of this mean? The CPC releases these seasonal outlooks to give a "heads up" as to what could be in our future for precipitation and temperatures. The darker the color is, the higher the chance is for that to happen (i.e. dark orange means a higher chance of seeing temperatures above average than light orange). There is by no means a forecast, which is released only five to seven days in advance and gives more precise information such as how much rain to expect and how hot or cold it will be.

Seasonal outlooks use temperature or precipitation anomalies, or departures from average.

What does an average winter look like across the DMV?

Winter is our driest season, accounting for about 8.89" over the course of the three months. December is the "wettest" month of winter, with an average precipitation amount of 3.91", which happens to be the 7th wettest month of the year. But January and February come in 11th and 12th (respectively) in terms of average precipitation.

Remember, these are outlooks, not forecasts. It's completely possible to get a string of bitterly cold days, and still have a warmer-than-average winter if the warmer-than-average days outnumber the below-average days.