Winter 2012: A return to normal cold temps - 13 WTHR Indianapolis

From an incredibly warm winter to a summer drought to an extremely wet fall, what could possibly happen next?

The winter forecast is out and there are a few surprises. Winter is in the wind and it will be an abnormally "normal" season based what the National Weather Service is forecasting.

"One thing I can tell you for sure, our winter won't be like last year," said Dan McCarthy, National Weather Service.

There's a better chance for a normal winter arriving earlier and maybe even a white Christmas.

The National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration released its winter outlook for 2012-2013 Thursday. Indiana appears to be in for a normal winter this year, but considering last winter's mild temperatures, Hoosiers could be in for a shock.

During Super Bowl Week in February 2012, temperatures approached 60 degrees. It was great news for the host city, which didn't need the headaches of the 2011 ice storm. But the mild winter also meant central Indiana received half as much snowfall as in a typical winter.

Forecasters believe it may be wise to have the snowblowers and shovels at the ready this winter.

"It was rare," said McCarthy. "How lucky were we to have temperatures in the upper fifties the week of the Super Bowl? I would not expect that this January. Most of our snow possibly right before Christmas, maybe even early December, but then we'll have our colder or near normal temperatures in January and start coming out of it mid-February."

That's a relief to small businesses that rely on winter weather, but less so for cities and towns that saved signficant amounts of money last year when they didn't have to buy salt to treat the roads and pay snow plow drivers.

The return to normal is good for a state that endured a dry winter last year, then a summer drought. Although Indianapolis area reservoirs are full again, water company officials welcome additional precipitation. Normal amounts of rain and snow will recharge rivers, underground aquifer, and wells which supply drinking water to individual homes and entire communities.

The average seasonal snowfall for Central Indiana is 25.9 inches. But last year, less than 10 inches of snow for the entire winter. The most ever seen in the region is the 58.2 inches of snow that fell in 1989.

After golfing almost all winter, Darrell Tardy has a depressing outlook.

"Can't golf. Can't be outdoors. I am not a snow person," said Tardy.

But business owner Gene Henthorn is looking forward to servicing snow blowers this winter.

"We will be getting a lot of service this year. Nobody used their snow blowers. They've been sitting with gas in them, " he said with a smile.

Meantime, the City of Indianapolis says it's ready with 150 pieces of snow removal equipment and a crew of 180 people to clear the streets.  

Drivers have already been getting in "snow shape" for the upcoming winter, making sure all equipment is ready to go.

The city does have a much bigger fleet of snow removal equipment now.  In fact, additional plows were added just a couple of years ago.

They've even attended "master plow training" - a refresher course to remind them of safety concerns during the winter months.

The earliest measurable snowfall occurred today, October 18, in that record year of 1989.

If that happened now, the city would be prepared with about a third of the fleet of plow trucks in good working order and less than three years old.

There is a comprehensive plan for clearing snow from Indianapolis' 6,000 lane miles, including contractors available if necessary. Typically, if we get a snowfall of more than 6 inches, contractors are mobilized. A total of 98 snow plows and 150 snow removing equipment - that includes garbage trucks and other small vehicles that can be equipped with plows. 

See more from NOAA