NOAA's 2026-27 Winter Outlook predicts warmer North and wetter South due to strong El Niño

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) released its U.S. Winter Outlook, forecasting warmer-than-average temperatures across much of the northern United States and wetter-than-average conditions from California to Florida and along the East Coast for December 2026 through February 2027. This outlook is heavily influenced by a strengthening El Niño, which is anticipated to be one of the strongest on record.