NOAA Predicts Warmer, Drier Winter for the South and Cooler, Wetter Conditions in the North

(LOOTPRESS) – The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) released its 2025–2026 winter outlook on Thursday, forecasting a season of contrasting conditions across the United States from December through February.

According to NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center, much of the contiguous U.S. is expected to experience warmer-than-average temperatures, with southern states likely facing a warmer and drier winter than usual. In contrast, northern regions are forecast to see cooler, wetter weather through the core winter months.

These patterns reflect the country’s recent shift into La Niña, the cooler phase of the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) climate cycle. The ENSO system is driven by sea surface temperatures and precipitation trends across the equatorial Pacific Ocean, wh