FIRST ALERT WEATHER: See Ron’s winter weather predictions

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (KY3) - KY3 Chief Meteorologist Ron Hearst is tracking what he expects this winter in the Ozarks.

Here’s what he’s seeing.

Current Influences: La Niña and Pacific Ocean Temperatures

Our winter forecast is heavily influenced by current water temperatures in the Pacific Ocean, which significantly modify air masses as they move over land and water. We are currently in a La Niña pattern, characterized by colder-than-normal water off the coast of Peru. Conversely, warmer water has pooled west along the California coast.

This setup has led to storms crossing the Pacific and then tracking south off California, creating a ridge of high pressure over the western one-third of the country. East of the Mississippi River, a corresponding trough has formed, placing the Ozarks in a c