The Northern Star had the opportunity to sit down with the nation’s only university staff meteorologist, Gilbert Sebenste, to discuss his winter weather predictions.

Northern Star: When will winter begin?
Gilbert Sebenste: Typically winter begins right around December 21, which is when the sun’s most direct rays fall farthest to the south in our hemisphere, pointing toward South America, and that begins their summer.

NS: What are normal high and lows during winter?
GS: That varies day by day, but in general our average temperature by day ranges from the 20s to lower 30s, with lows at night in the teens and 20s. However, those are just averages so it could be considerably warmer or colder.

NS: How will this winter compare to those norms?
GS: At this point, it looks like the first part of winter could be cold and rather snowy, particularly in December. After that, climate models are showing we should warm up as early as January, but especially in February and March. At this point, we’re modestly leaning toward a warmer and dryer than average winter.

NS: When will the first snow fall be?
GS: There is a chance that we can see a few flurries as early as this week. However, the average first snowfall tends to occur after Halloween in the first week of November.

NS: Will we get a lot of snow?
GS: At this point, it is rather difficult to call, but I am leaning toward a less snowy winter compared to the last two winters which have had an above average snow fall.

NS: Will we have a white Christmas?
GS: On average, the first 4 inch snow fall occurs at Christmas time. The odds are typically 60 percent for a white Christmas and 40 percent for not. The last several years we have had a white Christmas, although I can’t make a forecast this far out about the odds of us having a Christmas snowfall.

NS: What is your favorite part of winter?
GS: When we get big snow, a foot of snow. Just to see it decorate everything, the event from a meteorologist’s standpoint is quite exciting.

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