Early snow hints at harsher US winter

National Weather Service blames La Nina for snowfall appearing more than a month earlier than expected.

Snow US winter

In parts of the US, snow has arrived more than a month earlier that its usual first appearance.

Although the levels do not compare to usual winter standards, the early start could be a harbinger of rougher weather to come.

The Farmer’s Almanac, famous for its long-range weather predictions, says the winter of 2011-2012 will be unusually cold and stormy across the US.

The National Weather Service agrees, blaming the cyclical weather phenomenon known as La Nina.

Al Jazeera’s Tom Ackerman reports.

Source: Al Jazeera