El Niño could reshape New York's winter forecast. See what NOAA predicts
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Climate Prediction Center has released its outlook for the coming winter.
A very strong El Niño is expected to be a major driver of weather patterns across the United States this winter, including in New York. But what does that mean for the state's winter forecast?
In short, above-normal temperatures are favored across much of the northern United States, while stormier conditions are more likely in the South.
“As we know from decades of observations, a very strong El Niño will likely bring a southward and eastward shift to the jet stream for the contiguous U.S., which tilts the odds toward stormier weather across the South,” Ken Graham, director of NOAA’s National Weather Service, said in a news release. “While higher chances of rain and snow may bring relief to drought-afflicted areas, too much precipitation on dry soil can fuel destructive flash floods and mudslides. Now is the time for communities and individuals to plan ahead for the upcoming winter."
The seasonal outlook covers December 2026, January 2027 and February 2027, the three months that make ...