Overview

• NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center favors above-normal temperatures across the southern tier, California and much of the East Coast, with cooler conditions most likely in the Pacific Northwest and Upper Midwest.
• Precipitation odds tilt wetter for the Pacific Northwest, northern Rockies, the Plains and Great Lakes, and drier for the Southwest, Gulf Coast and Southeast.
• CPC notes drought is likely to persist or worsen across parts of the southern tier and Southwest, with potential improvement in the Northwest as storm tracks shift north.
• Large swaths along the U.S.-Canada border show equal chances for temperature and precipitation categories, reflecting lower confidence in a clear signal.
• Forecasters expect a weak La Niña to persist through winter before trending toward ENSO-neutral by late winter or spring 2026, and emphasize the outlook does not predict seasonal snowfall or polar vortex strength.