The NOAA saw its shadow, so we get another La Niña year!

On October 20, NOAA (The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) released its winter outlook report for the United States from December 2022 through February 2023. The verdict? It will be another La Niña year. The third in a row, to be exact.

Let’s get to the important part first: what does another La Niña year mean for the Bay Area? Broadly speaking, it looks like slightly warmer temps with average precipitation for us. However, Southern California, already impacted by severe drought, is leaning towards another lower-than-average year of rain combined with those warmer temps.

First, check out the partial NOAA temperature map below:

The Bay Area is in the light orange “leaning towards” category for above average temperatures this winter. That doesn’t mean it’s a certainty, but it does mean we have a 33-40% likelihood to see warmer temperatures. Now let’s look at the precipitation map:

The Bay Area may get an average amount of rain, while the Pacific Northwest has a 33-50% chance to get more than average, and Southern California has a 33-50% chance to get less than average. Since the SF Bay Area is in a “break even” region, we may see drought conditions somewhat improve! However, NOAA has forecast that drought conditions overall in California may worsen. All the communities from Sacramento eastwards and from Monterey on southwards are slated to “continue or worsen” in the drought outlook.

La Niña is characterized by warmer, wetter conditions overall… but that mostly means more rain and cooler temps for our neighbors to the north in the Pacific Northwest, with a continuation of drought conditions in much of California.

I personally believe we’re blessed with a great climate most of the year, but with water and energy conservation on the minds of many, it’s safe to say that this is no time to slack! Stay tuned for more updates on winterizing your home, and subscribe below so you don’t miss our twice-a-month Bay Area real estate digests!