MOSSBANK, Oregon (CNM) -- The Pacific Ocean is behaving itself this year, and weather forecasters, who have spent three years explaining El Nino and La Nina, are finding that strangely difficult to explain.

Pacific sea-surface temperatures: nothing to see here

"Sea-surface temperatures are average. The jet stream is average. We are calling it La Nada," said Dr. Phyllis Abernathy of the Coastal Climate Center, adding that the name was "not entirely official."

An average winter means a little bit of everything: some snow, some rain, and a smaller chance of extreme events. Ski resorts are cautiously optimistic, and snow-shovel retailers are cautiously pessimistic.