The Triple Dip is Back: Find Out What That Means for Fall in Lubbock

September 22nd marks the official start to the fall season, and it's looking unseasonably warm. Normally, Lubbock's temperatures are around 83 degrees, but we're looking at sunshine and the 90s for the rest of the week. When will our West Texas weather match the season we're in? Let's take a look.

Climate Predictions for October Through December

NOAA's Climate Prediction Center has put out their latest forecast outlook for the fall and winter seasons, and the predictions are not looking favorable for us. Why? La Niña is in place for a third consecutive northern hemisphere winter, making this the century’s first “triple-dip“ La Niña. The last triple-dip was 1998 to 2001.

La Niña refers to the periodic cooling of the ocean's surface temperatures. While that may make you think that we can expect cooler and wetter conditions, that only applies to those folks who live in the northern United States.

For us southerners, we get the opposite result. Temperatures will remain above average, and precipitation chances will be below average. Warmer and drier was not what most of us were hoping for after another scorching summer, but the good news is that we at least got some substantial rain over the past month.

Recent Improvements Give Us Hope

August brought a substantial 5.65 inches on rain in just a matter of days. When you consider the fact that this equates to over a quarter of the total rainfall for the year (18.56 inches), it's a pretty impressive total. This also helped to transition the majority of the South Plains out of the top drought categories.

Nonetheless, as you head out to your favorite fall events, make sure to slather on the sunscreen and stay hydrated. Additionally, we want to remind folks to be cautious when burning and barbecuing because with dry, sunny, and hot conditions, fires can start quickly.

Lastly, while more sunny and hot conditions are expected, that doesn't mean that precipitation will remain completely out of the forecast, so always have an umbrella handy just in case.