El Niño Winter — A Strong One — After 4 Years: Here’s What To Expect

ACROSS AMERICA — A strong El Niño climate pattern mean a snowy winter in many parts of the country and rainy weather in others, which could lesson severe drought conditions in much of the country, the National Weather Service’s Climate Prediction Center said in an updated U.S. Winter Outlook released Thursday.

The United States hasn’t had an El Niño winter in four years.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration scientists expect wetter-than-average conditions to prevail in Alaska, and portions of the West, Southern Plains, Southeast, Gulf Coast and lower mid-Atlantic from December through February.

At the same time, it’ll be drier than average across the country’s northern tier, especially in the northern Rockies and High Plains and near the Great Lakes, forecasters said.

“An enhanced southern jet stream and associated moisture often present during strong El Niño events supports high odds for above-average precipitation for the Gulf Coast, lower Mississippi Valley and Southeast states this winter,” Jon Gottschalck, chief of the Operational Prediction Branch of the Climate Prediction Center, said in a news release.

Other parts of the country have equal chances of a winter that’s wetter or drier and warmer or colder than usual.

A third of the country, including parts of the southern and central U.S., Hawaii and Puerto Rico, is experiencing drought conditions, according to Tuesday’s updated U.S. Drought Monitor.

Heavy precipitation later this month is likely to ease drought conditions in the central U.S., Brad Pugh, a drought expert with Climate Prediction Center. Said in the news release. The heavy precipitation associated with a strong El Niño pattern is expected to provide drought relief to the southern U.S. during the next few months, Pugh said.