PIERRE, S.D.(DRGNews)- The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s outlook for the winter of 2023-24 shows El Nino will be a primary factor in weather conditions.

During Wednesday’s US Army Corps of Engineers Missouri River basin meeting in Pierre, Scott Doering (door-ing) with the National Weather Service said weather models show South Dakota having slightly above average temperatures. But, he said, there were no major indicators one way or another about precipitation.

Doering said for the first time in four years, there’s an El Nino in place heading into winter which means warmer-than-average temperatures for the northern tier of the continental United States.

Doering looked at past El Nino winters to see what may be ahead for this winter.

Doering said NOAA’s October outlook covers December, January and February. The outlook will be updated next week.