Storms start to move out of Minnesota, continue for western Wisconsin

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, with minus 40-degree days in January. But the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is putting out a neutral forecast, said meteorologist 

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources climate working group

“The Farmers’ Almanac has my mom and her friends just terrorized, just petrified with fear,” Boulay said. “It generally doesn’t look like it will be.”

But he said anything can happen, calling the atmosphere “fickle” and pointing to both a 

 of warm water in the Pacific Ocean and a warmer-than-average autumn in Alaska that could send Minnesota’s winter either direction on the Winter Misery Index, now the 

“We had a debate. Is it the Winter Misery Index or the winter fun index? So, we kind of compromised,” Boulay said. 

One thing that is certain, he said, the winters are bringing 

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Farmers' Almanac is predicting one heck of a winter. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is putting out a neutral forecast. And then there’s that blob in the Pacific Ocean that could influence weather patterns.

Farmers' Almanac is predicting one heck of a winter. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is putting out a neutral forecast. And then there's that blob in the Pacific Ocean that could influence weather patterns.

How bad will this winter be in Minnesota? Could go either way

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