WRAL's Fishel Predicts Warm Winter

Raleigh, N.C. — If history is any indication of what weather the Triangle can expect to see, it’s unlikely much snow will fall this winter, according to WRAL Chief Meteorologist Greg Fishel.

“I looked at six La Nina events since the late 1940s that most closely correlated with the conditions we have right now,” Fishel said. “Of those six, I took the one that had the warmest October, since we just had a really warm October, and then saw what happened after that.”

That event, from 1949-50, also had low precipitation levels, which the Triangle has been experiencing this year. If history repeats itself, the area could expect to have a warmer than usual January.

“If this is the kind of winter we’re going to have my friends, the cold weather lovers and the snow lovers will not be happy at all,” Fishel said. “We can only hope history doesn’t repeat itself.”