NOAA outlook favors warmer northern U.S. and wetter South this winter
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s winter outlook favors above-average temperatures across the northern United States during December 2026 to February 2027. It also tilts toward wetter conditions across the South and along the East Coast.
Event / data period: 2026-10-15
Published: · Updated:
NOAA expects drought to improve in many areas of the Southern Great Plains, Southwest and East, while parts of the northern Rockies have elevated odds of drought developing or worsening. These are seasonal probability outlooks, not precise local weather forecasts.
Data
Indicators reported by the source
NOAA seasonal probability categories, not precise local weather forecasts.
| Northern U.S. | Above-average temperatures are favored. |
| South and East Coast | Above-average precipitation is favored. |
| Drought outlook | Improvement is favored in the Southern Great Plains, Southwest and East; worsening is favored in parts of the northern Rockies. |
Methodology
Categories transcribe regional statements in NOAA’s October 15, 2026 winter and drought outlook; no certain weather outcome is inferred.
Updated:
Subjects and places
Subject proposals
- EnvironmentSuggested
- Preserved editorial category/topic; broad candidate onlywww.noaa.gov ↗
Geographic references
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- United States · Place role: Coverage · Place type: Country or area · Location precision: RegionalEvidence
- Explicit preserved editorial country/region; no city or national centroid inferredwww.noaa.gov ↗