Winter is coming, Houston

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Will it EVER cool off?! That's what everyone keeps asking.

October 2016 was the ninth driest and the ninth warmest on record in Houston.

Unfortunately, the winter outlook is full of a lot of hot air too. The long range forecast from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration favors warmer and drier than normal weather for Texas.

That doesn't mean we won't have some cool, wet days. It means the overall weather pattern in December, January and February will average warmer and drier than normal.

A weak La Nina in the Pacific Ocean is expected to produce a more active northern jet stream.

That will keep the coldest air locked up north most of the winter and keep many of the organized storms and much of the rain out of Texas.

Developing Drought

Only .14" of rain fell at Bush Intercontinental Airport in October. That's -5.56" below normal. And October is usually one of the wettest months of the year.

The lack of substantial rain is already causing drought conditions to develop in parts of southeast Texas. If timely rain doesn't begin to fall soon, the drought will likely get worse this coming winter.