Despite being slow to develop, a La Nina winter is still expected.

The National Weather Service's Climate Prediction Center gives it a nearly 60 percent chance of being a La Nina winter. Ed Shimon at the National Weather Service in Lincoln indicates they watch the Equatorial Pacific temperatures when tracking a La Nina weather pattern.

Shimon anticipates the change over to La Nina happening very soon. He predicts some periods of frigid air coming to central Illinois and a strong winter storm or two. 

With another La Nina winter here, this will mark the fourth time in the last five winters we've had a La Nina winter in Illinois. 

The La Nina winter weather pattern gives us an above-normal precipitation weather outlook for the traditional winter months. 

We'll have more on that next week on Regional Radio.