What NOAA’s Winter 2025–26 Forecast Signals For The U.S.
• NOAA predicts a sharply divided winter for the U.S., with colder conditions in the Northwest and warmer, drier weather in the South.
• La Niña is expected to drive these weather patterns, increasing drought concerns in southern regions.
• An early cold surge before Thanksgiving could bring below-normal temperatures and snow to parts of the Plains and Midwest.
Divided winter: cold North, warm South forecast
NOAA's Climate Prediction Center forecasts a starkly divided winter for December 2025 through February 2026 across the United States. Colder-than-average temperatures are more probable from the Pacific Northwest through the Great Lakes. The southern states, Southwest, and Florida are expected to be warmer and drier than usual.
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