Video showing the evolution of colder Sea Surface Temperatures in the Pacific Ocean, which could impact our weather this winter. Click to play.

Seasonable Temperatures for the Upcoming Week

Good afternoon to all. The forecast for the upcoming work week looks rather uneventful, with seasonable temperatures and nice weather to start the week. As a low pressure system forms over the Great Plains and slides to our northwest later in the week, it could bring in some slightly warmer air and unsettled weather with the chance of a couple showers just in time for next weekend.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has recently released its seasonal climate outlook, which predicts a warmer and drier winter than usual across much of the nation. This prediction is made in part by oceanic temperature trends in the Pacific Ocean; a cooler ocean current (La Nina) usually leads to drier than normal winters across the US, especially in southern parts of the country. This isn't good news to our drought stricken friends in the South. For more info, follow this link: http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2007/20071009_outlook.html

What does La Nina mean for us? Hard to say, because La Nina's influence is not as strong up in the Northern parts of the country, however it could mean a drier than average winter for us. Don't be fooled though - we have had some whopper snowstorms in a La Nina pattern. Cold, dry storms have impacted our region under this La Nina regime, and have yielded some hefty snowfall totals of dry, fluffy, wind driven snow. As always, the WUML weather team will be on the lookout for any Nor'Easters as fall turns into winter.

But for now, things look beautiful. The nights are cool, the days are warm, and peak foliage will quickly begin to overspread our area over the next week or so as conditions are almost ideal for leaves to lose their chorophyll and turn bright shades of red, orange, and yellow owing to the sugars already present in the leaves. Perhaps next time we can explore the "changing of the leaves" in detail. For now, lets get to the local forecast.

Greater Lowell Forecast:

Tonight: Mostly clear and cool. Patchy frost in areas well north and west of town (Concord NH, points North and West). Low 39.

Monday: Partly to Mostly Sunny. High 60.

Monday Night: Clear and cool once again. Low near 39.

Tuesday: Pick of the week! Sunny and seasonable, High near 61.

Wednesday: Partly Cloudy. A tad warmer with highs near 63.

Thursday: Patchy morning fog, becoming partly cloudy by afternoon. Slight chance of an evening shower. High 64.

Extended Outlook:

Friday: Mostly cloudy with a chance of showers. High near 67.

Saturday: Continued Cloudy with showers possible. Highs again near 67.

For 91.5 FM this is WUML weather director and Umass Lowell student meteorologist John Webster. Have a great week everyone!