Winter is heading toward an El Nino this year, which probably means a warmer than average winter over the next several months, according to Iowa’s new State Climatologist.

Dr. Justin Glisan serves in the role previously held for three decades by Harry Hillaker, which is a resource for anyone from farmers to insurance agents to lawyers about official state climate and weather data. Glisan tells KRLS News 2018 has been an unpredictable year with plenty of variance so far, with peaks and valleys as it relates to both temperature and precipitation.

Glisan says an El Nino is a series of climatic changes affecting the Pacific Ocean, characterized by the appearance of unusually warm, nutrient-poor water near South America, which usually leads to a warmer, wetter winter in Iowa. He says the wet autumn will likely give the upcoming planting season a good “head start” in terms of soil moisture.