Summary
La Niña, a climate pattern marked by cooler ocean temperatures in the Pacific, has been detected and is expected to last through winter from December 2025 to February 2026. This could affect weather patterns in the United States, with some areas expecting colder and wetter conditions, and others facing warmer and drier weather.
Key Facts
- La Niña is part of a natural climate cycle called the El Niño-Southern Oscillation.
- La Niña is the cooler phase, while El Niño is the warmer phase.
- During La Niña, northern U.S. regions might experience colder weather, while the East Coast could see warmer conditions.
- Southern parts of the U.S. may face drier weather, whereas the Midwest and Pacific Northwest could have wetter conditions.
- The National Weather Service indicates that these impacts are less certain due to the expected weak nature of this La Niña.
- Southern Florida and parts of the southwest and northeast are likely to have above-average temperatures this winter.
- The northwest U.S. might see below-average temperatures, while some central states could experience above-average rainfall.
- A transition to neutral conditions, neither El Niño nor La Niña, is expected from January to March 2026.
