Previous weather predictions made by Environment Canada for the coming winter will apparenty not pan out this year. Environment Canada Meteorologist Dan Kulak says comparing forecasts with last year's El Niño has been on everyone's mind.

Dan Kulak"There was a strong El Niño last year which people might remember. And then there were rumours of a significant La Niña, which is the opposite of El Niño, for forming this coming winter. But those suggestions have certainly been toned back in the last couple of months. The latest information that we have suggests that it's going to be neither an El Niño nor a La Niña this fall at least, and probably to the end of the winter."

He explains the situation when neither conditions are present, is called a neutral condition.

"So, kind of a run-of-the-mill average situation in the Pacific which is what the El Niño phenomenon is, which is a global driver of weather. So, in reality, the seasonal forecast that we have right now, I don't really have a strong inkling of what the winter might be like. The fall's possibly a little bit warmer than normal, but the winter, we don't have a good feeling right now as to whether it's warmer or colder or wetter or drier."

Kulak adds what we can expect later this week.

"On the next few days in the Portage area and Southern Manitoba, probably a little bit below normal, but recovering to warmer than normal temperatures through the weekend, and the early part of next week for some days. Generally not a lot of snow on the forecast for Southern Manitoba, unlike some areas on the prairies -- Saskatchewan and portions of Manitoba last week. Much of southwestern Saskatchewan and even central Alberta has had snow so far this year."