Forecasters are predicting a mild winter in Illinois thanks to a strong El Nino event that will influence our weather here. The latest models show December thru February will be warmer and drier than average. State Climatologist Jim Angel says that’s largely due to the growing El Nino effect, caused by warming waters in the Pacific Ocean.
The last two significant El Nino events in Illinois were in 1997 and ’98 and 1982 and ’83. Winters during those time periods enjoyed temperatures well above average.