We could see record-setting warmth this week in central Illinois and that is only going to set the table for an extended period of above-normal temperatures for this time of the year.

Ed Shimon at the National Weather Service in Lincoln indicates we are solidly in a pattern that is going to trend above normal for at least the next month. While not as strong, there are trends of above-normal precipitation.

The peak of La Nina is here, according to Shimon. Once we get into the new year and mid-January, the strength of La Nina will begin to decrease.

Last year at this time, similar forecasts were being made but Shimon doesn't believe there is nearly the correlation between last year and this year.

He notes the impacts of a La Nina weather pattern can also be dependent on the cool weather in the North Atlantic, and when its patterns are weaker, it can make La Nino more impactful.