MILWAUKEE - Even though we're seeing temperatures in the 60's this weekend, next week is Wisconsin's Winter Awareness Week. Are you ready? Here's what a variety of 'experts' have to say.

According to popular myth--if the squirrels have insatiable appetites during the fall--it's going to be a cold, hard winter ahead. But if the experts at the National Weather Service in Sullivan have anything to say about it--the squirrels are 'nutty' if they think it's going to be a tough winter!

"We're very confident that we're gonna have moderate El Nino conditions," Science & Operations Officer Jeff Craven explains.

El Nino means the main storm track will be across the southern United States--leaving us in the Midwest with a warmer winter and less snow than normal. Craven explains, "These winters tend to be... they start out cold, and then warm up towards the end."

So what's the woolly bear caterpillar saying this year? A wide brown stripe means a mild winter ahead.

How about the Old Farmer's Almanac? It's predicting a harsh winter. But the experts say it's about time Mother Nature cut us a break--especially since the past summer was so cool.

"Mother Nature loves to compensate when you get a 3 to 4 month cool period, often within 6-12 months you'll get just the opposite--a period that's much milder," Craven says.

No matter what Mother Nature brings--winter is always a Wonderland in Wisconsin! Lisa Marshall is with the Wisconsin Department of Tourism. She says if the experts are right and the winter is mild--ski lovers have no fear! "Of course all of our ski places are always creating their snow, so those places are always operational," she insists.

If the squirrels are right and the winter is harsh--you can take it inside.

"Don't like snow--you can head indoors, hit the indoor water parks, hit the museums, hit all the attractions," Marshall suggests.

It's Wisconsin, so cold and snow are guaranteed, but if the early signs are correct, this winter will be more mild, than wild!