A strong El Niño event, which meteorologists are calling a "super" one, is shaping the weather of the coming winter. According to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the winter months from December 2026 through February 2027 will pass under its influence.
NOAA forecasts warmer-than-usual temperatures across most of the northern regions of the United States. This applies to northern California, the Pacific Northwest, the Midwest, the Mississippi Valley, much of the East and Alaska.
At the same time, the southern parts of the country, from the Southwest to the Southeast and along the eastern seaboard, are likely to receive more precipitation. Such conditions could ease drought in the southwestern states, the southern Great Plains and the Southeast.
Ken Graham, director of the National Weather Service, noted that a very strong El Niño typically shifts the jet stream south and east, increasing the likelihood of stormy weather in the South. At the same time, forecasts do not guarantee specific events, but merely change the odds.
The influence extends further as well: Kelvin waves have already been observed on the West Coast, raising sea levels and increasing the risk of flooding. On the East Coast, more active nor'easters are possible.
How will this affect other parts of the world and people's daily lives? Forecasts help people prepare in advance, but much depends on local factors.
Overall, this season's El Niño promises to ease drought in a number of areas, although excess precipitation carries its own risks, including floods and landslides.
