This year’s weather going into the fall is set to be another record-breaker, due to the super El Niño. Already, this summer has seen record-breaking heatwaves, causing power outages, heat-related deaths, and devastating wildfires. That said, while nothing is set in stone, projections for this upcoming winter are already suggesting record-breaking weather and abnormalities across the United States and the U.S. East Coast.
El Niño refers to a climate event in which surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean are higher than average. While naturally occurring, the 2026 El Niño is projected to be the strongest in recorded history.
Typically, areas within the northeast see less snowfall under El Niños. That said, a recent outlook from the Farmers’ Almanac winter forecast is projecting a much more extreme outlook. This year’s super El Niño is projected to cause much milder and wetter winters for the U.S. Northeast. This includes higher humidity, leading to frequent rain or coastal storms.
This is expected to increase the risk of flooding within these affected areas, which have dealt with flood-related issues in the past months of early 2026 alone. Additionally, the rare snowfall that is expected to occur is projected to likely happen between January and February.
Much of winter’s heavy snowfall is projected to occur in the northwest and midwest this year. As the months progress, more accurate weather predictions are expected to be released. That said, recent budget cuts to organizations like the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) by the White House for fiscal year 2027 are expected to make weather prediction more difficult.
