El Niño Expected to Bring Wetter, Warmer US Winter
NOAA released its winter outlook, favoring a warmer, wetter season for much of the U.S. Forecasters tie the pattern to a strengthening El Niño.
41 Lower 48 states are forecast warmer than normal, in part or whole.
Drought may develop or worsen in eastern Washington, northeastern Oregon, northern Rockies.
12 states may see above-average snow, AccuWeather says, including California and Texas.
Boston's snowfall is forecast at 15 to 30 inches, after nearly 63 last winter.
Why it matters: El Niño tends to push the storm track south, shifting moisture and snow away from northern states. That could ease drought in the Southwest and Southern Plains.
Chicago, Boston, New York and Philadelphia may get half their normal snow or less.
AccuWeather expects much lower heating demand in the Great Lakes and Northeast.
El Niño Expected to Bring Wetter, Warmer US WinterYou are hereLatest
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Where they split: NOAA's outlook shows no part of the country favored to be colder than normal, while AccuWeather forecasts a cold winter for cities including Las Vegas, Phoenix, Houston and New Orleans.
Left coverage, 1 sources: The left frames a wetter, warmer winter that could ease Western drought, set against long-term warming NOAA attributes mainly to human-caused climate change.
Right coverage, 1 sources: The right centers regional maps and a dramatic snow flip, with drought spreading in the north and rare snow in southern cities.
What’s next: The Climate Prediction Center sees high odds of a strong-to-very-strong El Niño through early 2027. It also sees high odds of a historic event.
AccuWeather's Paul Pastelok said one storm could change East Coast totals, especially in late winter.
Will this El Niño surpass the 1982-83 and 1997-98 events, as AccuWeather projects?
How much drought relief will the West actually see, given drought may worsen in the Northwest?
