NOAA Forecasts Warm Winter in North, Wet in South; El Niño Influence Significant

Strong El Niño to bring warmer winter and wet weather across South

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) forecasts a warm, wet winter for much of the US due to a strong El Niño influence. This means that the northern and western parts of the US, including Northern California, the Pacific Northwest, and northern New England, are expected to experience above-average temperatures.
Widespread drought will continue across much of the central and southern U.S., but not in California. The Central Valley and San Francisco Bay area have the highest odds in the state for above-normal rainfall.
Despite warmer winter predictions, it's too soon to determine whether California will experience similar patterns to last winter's 31 atmospheric river storms, deadly floods, and record-setting snow. Precipitation will likely fall more extensively as rain rather than snow.
The Earth has experienced the hottest summer on record, and with the ongoing El Niño event and warming trends, both 2023 and 2024 are predicted to be hotter than previous years, with 2023 potentially becoming the planet's hottest year on record.
No two El Niños are alike, and the impacts vary with different weather drivers in place. Despite the uncertainty, regions like the West Coast, the South, and the East Coast have specific weather predictions. For example, the East Coast may face significant snowstorms, while the South might experience higher precipitation, providing some drought relief in the Gulf Coast and Florida.