# 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.

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- Section: Climate
- Country: United States
- Published: 2026-10-16T16:20:30+00:00
- Updated: 2026-10-16T16:20:30+00:00
- Event / data period: 2026-10-15
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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.

Methodology: Categories transcribe regional statements in NOAA’s October 15, 2026 winter and drought outlook; no certain weather outcome is inferred.

| Area | Outlook |
|---|---|
| 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. |

Sources: <https://www.noaa.gov/news-release/el-nino-looms-large-over-us-winter-outlook> · Download data: [JSON](https://newsverum.com/api/v1/articles/noaa-outlook-projects-warmer-north-wetter-south-for-us-winter-2026-27/data/source-reported-indicators?lang=en&format=json) · [CSV](https://newsverum.com/api/v1/articles/noaa-outlook-projects-warmer-north-wetter-south-for-us-winter-2026-27/data/source-reported-indicators?lang=en&format=csv)

## Sources

- [National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration](<https://www.noaa.gov/news-release/el-nino-looms-large-over-us-winter-outlook>) (Source checked: 2026-10-16; Published: 2026-10-15)

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