AMES, Iowa (WNAX) – While an active La Nina continues to form over the Pacific Ocean, there are questions if it will follow the usual script.

Past La Nina’s have led to cooler than normal winter temperatures over the northern plains, with some increase in snow.

Dennis Todey, head of the Midwest Climate Hub in Ames Iowa, says it looks like November will be more mild than cold.

Some longer-range climate maps are indicating warmer than normal temperatures early next year.

Todey says the trends are not locked in, yet.

Todey says they have to watch each run of the climate outlooks.

A La Nina occurs when sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean cool below long term normal trends.