As if Chicago's winters weren't already harsh enough, forecasters are calling for a "colder, snowier" season than it's seen in years.
- The culprit behind the unwelcome weather is a classic La Niña pattern, which is expected to occur for the third year in a row, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. "It is exceptional to have three consecutive years with a La Niña event," says Petteri Taalas, the secretary-general of the World Meteorological Organization. "Its cooling influence is temporarily slowing the rise in global temperatures -- but it will not halt or reverse the long-term warming trend."
- Chicago isn't the only city that's expected to be ravaged by La Niña, NOAA reports. Milwaukee, Detroit and other cities in the Great Lakes region will likely be hit just as hard, per NOAA.