Historically, La Niña causes prevailing winds, driven by jet stream changes, to move north, which means precip and therefore snow, falling along the mid to northern tier of states. Also, whatever cycle is in effect (Niño or Niña) typically runs for a couple of years.
Last year, the week following Labor Day, we got 6 to 8 inches of snow, and a fierce cold front that shut down interstate 80 for three days. Very much NOT expected.
Here’s the best definition of what to look for in an early winter…
“The
leaves turned early in that year. It
could be a long, hard winter. The
signs were everywhere. In the high country, the morning frost would
sometimes last until afternoon. Buffalo were
feeding ravenously. Beaver were damming and
storing with
strange vigour. Horses and dogs were becoming shaggy-haired as
never before.”
If you see these kinds of things, early winter doth approachith.
[Winter quote from the movie “The Hallelujah Trail” (1965)]