As the leaves color and fall, you might be remembering what we went through last winter.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is extending some good news: It should be a drier and less harsh winter in Central Illinois.

NOAA came out with its winter temperature and precipitation outlook on Thursday. In NOAA terms, winter is December, January and February.

Meteorologist Chuck Schaffer said one of the contributing factors to that prediction is the impact of an El Nino, a warming of water in the Pacific Ocean that affects wind and weather patterns.
Schaffer said, "It's not an El Nino yet; It's expected to be weak."

Schaffer said there is nothing to suggest Central Illinois will receive above- or below-normal precipitation, leading to an "equal chance."

94.1 WGFA