The Freep reported last week that the forthcoming winter will probably be less severe than last year's.
After last year's polar vortex and an unseasonably cool summer, this is the first burst of good weather-related news we've had in a while.
Via the Freep:
"A repeat of last winter is not particularly likely," said Mike Halpert, acting director of the [Climate Prediction Center], which is part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, in College Park, Md.
That doesn't mean there won't be cold air and snow, which is normal for much of the country during winter, Halpert said. It just won't persist as much as it did last year, when extreme weather seemed to be stuck in place, he said.
What's more, the Great Lakes are expected to be drier than average this year.
That, plus warmer overall temperatures will likely prevent the Great Lakes from practically freezing solid like they did last year.
