GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — As we get ready to dive into another West Michigan winter, all eyes are on what the upcoming 2025–2026 season may bring. Early signals point toward a dynamic pattern featuring temperature swings, numerous lake-effect snow events, and the potential for a few high-impact storm systems.

When we build our seasonal outlook, we look at several key ingredients: large-scale atmospheric patterns, anomalies, climate trends, and local influences. Here’s what we found.

Large-Scale Patterns

Teleconnections, or broad atmospheric patterns that influence weather, are major drivers of our winter trends. Like last year, we’re entering a weak La Niña.

For West Michigan, that typically means:

More frequent cold shots

A storm track that dips into the Great Lakes

Enhanced lake-effec

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