What does it mean? - La Niña winter is likely

La Niña has a 55 percent chance of being present for the winter of 2025-2026. It would be a weak La Niña, which would bring a caveat.

La Niña is the counterpart of the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO). It brings cooler-than-normal sea surface water temperatures to a certain spot over the tropical Pacific Ocean. The cooling, in this certain area, causes alterations all across the globe, and depending on the time of year it forms, it can mean more or less of your favorite weather conditions.

As the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, NOAA, forecasts, a weak La Niña will likely reign the winter. Under a typical La Niña, the jet stream is displaced a bit more north, which channels storms across the northern half of the United States, and the south tends to be influenced by higher pressures, which keeps the winter drier and warmer than usual from California through the Southeast.

Since the forecast calls for a weak La Niña, there could be more fluctuations to this forecast, meaning more variability. When there is a weak La Niña, Nor'easters tend to stay inland, which could mean less snow overall for the tri-state region but more liquid and icy precipitation. Similar conditions are expected for the mid-Atlantic area.

Remember that this doesn't mean that some storms won't make it down south. Some cold outbreaks could still occur, but these tend to be less frequent under a La Niña. There will still be some cold days and perhaps some places receiving snow, so don't rule out bringing those jackets and winter gear. You might not use them too much, but they will be used for sure at some point this winter if you are in the south. If you read us from "up-north," you can bet on a colder and snowier, rainier season if you are anywhere from the Pacific Northwest through the Great Lakes area.