Despite that fact it seems we've had more days feel like Summer since the calendar officially turned to Autumn in September, a new scientific forecast model suggests we need to enjoy these above-normal temperatures because the bottom is getting ready to drop out as soon as Winter gets here.

The National Science Foundation recently released the forecast model below for the entire U.S. created by researchers from Atmospheric and Environmental Research (AER) and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) who based the model off the "relationship between Siberian snow cover in fall months, and Northern Hemisphere climate variability during the winter."

As you can see, if the model holds true, get ready to crank the thermostat.

(National Science Foundation)
(National Science Foundation)
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Seeing that the entire state of Indiana is engulfed in the darkest (e.g. coldest) blue zone, the first instinct is to assume it will be bone-chilling cold from December until mid-March. However, according to U.S. Climate Data, the average temperature between December and February for our area is in the low-to-mid 40's. The dark blue area on the map above suggests temps will be in the neighborhood of two-and-a-half degrees lower than that which leaves us in the upper-30's, lower-40's which isn't terrible. It's not great, but personally I find that bearable. At least they're not forecasting us to be in the single digits or teens all season (look, I'm trying to find some sort of silver lining here).

At the end of the day, regardless of what your tolerance level is, it's going to be a chillier than normal winter around the Tri-State, so bundle up.

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