Dallas-Fort Worth is likely in for a rainy, potentially chilly winter this year. 

Forecasters at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released this year’s winter weather outlook on Oct. 15, projecting areas across the country will feel the effects of El Nino, a naturally occurring climate pattern that can alter local weather patterns around the world.

The southern U.S., including North Texas, is set for a wetter than normal season, bringing increased precipitation through the winter. 

However, a rainy winter in Dallas-Fort Worth still does not guarantee cooler temperatures or snow, said Tom Bradshaw, chief meteorologist at the National Weather Service’s Fort Worth office. 

According to the Climate Prediction Center, Dallas-Fort Worth has equal chances of seeing above- or below-normal temperatures through February, meaning temperatures are expected to be near-normal this winter. 

Bradshaw said North Texans should prepare for the possibility of brief cold outbreaks and potential snow and ice, but there’s nothing that indicates D-FW will have a colder-than-normal winter.

The increased precipitation could help North Texas recover from its prolonged summer drought. Dallas-Fort Worth had a 67-day streak without measurable rainfall this year, the second-longest dry streak on record for the region, according to the weather service.

According to the U.S. Drought Monitor’s Oct. 15 update, North Texas is still experiencing moderate to severe drought conditions, with areas near Denton County seeing extreme drought. 

This winter’s increased rainfall could prove hazardous for regions deeply impacted by drought this year, NOAA said in its release. 

“While higher chances of rain and snow may bring relief to drought-afflicted areas, too much precipitation on dry soil can fuel destructive flash floods and mudslides,” Ken Graham, director of NOAA’s National Weather Service, said in the release. “Now is the time for communities and individuals to plan ahead for the upcoming winter.” 

Though flash flooding is a possibility in North Texas this winter, Bradshaw said weather events like mudslides are more likely in regions outside of D-FW, such as the Pacific Northwest. He added that North Texas’ recent rain has improved the region’s drought conditions and rehydrated the soil.

According to the Climate Prediction Center, drought conditions are expected to improve over the next several months in Dallas-Fort Worth.