Indiana’s winter could be milder and wetter this year, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration . Its Climate Prediction Center updated the winter outlook report last month for January, February, and March of 2025.
The U.S. winter outlook from NOAA shows La Niña conditions are strongly expected. The U.S. has a 60% chance of La Niña emerging from now until November and persisting from January through March 2025.
Here’s what that means for Hoosiers living in Indiana.
What is La Niña?
La Niña is a natural climate pattern in which the ocean’s seawater cools in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean, according to the National Weather Service . It occurs normally every 3-5 years and can have a significant impact on the weather, such as worsening the Atlantic hurricane season .
What’s the NOAA forecast for Indiana this winter?
Indiana is forecast to experience above-normal precipitation. Areas as far south as Evansville and stretching as far north as Fort Wayne could see higher chances of precipitation at 50–60% above average. South Bend and Gary along Indiana’s northern edge could have a 40–50% greater chance of precipitation this winter.