Will the coming winter bring snow, drought, soaking rains, or mild weather to your national park outings? As usual, it depends on where you go, but Rocky Mountain National Park could be a winter wonderland if the forecast from AccuWeather holds true, while New England travelers should enjoy a reprieve from last year's overly bountiful snows.

In their long-range forecast, the predictors at AccuWeather.com say California's drought will be doused with rains and heavy snows...which could lead to flooding and mudslides. But it could also provide a sparkling snowy contrast to Sequoia National Park's giant trees and provide a snowpack that will fuel Yosemite National Park's waterfalls next spring.

While Colorado has a snowy bull's eye on it, Yellowstone, Grand Teton, and Glacier national parks in the Northern Rockies could be facing a relatively dry and mild winter. The same is expected to dominate the weather window for the Pacific Northwest parks of Mount Rainier, Olympic, and North Cascades.

AccuWeather also predicts that it won't be so bone-chilling cold in the Great Lakes region, which means Apostle Islands National Lakeshore might not see its ice caves return this year (or at least access to them), and Isle Royale National Park might not benefit from ice bridges that could serve to bring new wolf genes to the island.

The strong El Niño pattern that's developing in the Pacific could mean more turbulent weather for the Gulf States and Florida, where birds wintering at Everglades National Park and Big Cypress National Preserve could be tested (along with bird watchers) by tornadoes.

Will the predictions prove true? Stay tuned.