At around the Winter Solstice (December 21), the weather will be affected by La Nina. During La Niña events, sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean are cooler than average. The cooling of the ocean affects atmospheric conditions, including increased trade winds and altered jet stream patterns. La Niña influences weather patterns globally, often bringing wetter conditions to some regions and drier conditions to others.
Farmers’ Almanac winter forecast for 2024-25 in Michigan: Wet, snowy, frigid cold https://t.co/6zCSvlZiWt
— Detroit Free Press (@freep) August 12, 2024
La Niña can impact weather patterns across the United States. Here are some typical effects corresponding with La Niña on different pockets of the country:
Pacific Northwest:
Increased Rainfall and Snowfall: La Niña often brings cooler and wetter conditions to the Pacific Northwest, leading to higher-than-average rainfall and snowfall. This can benefit water supply but also increase the risk of flooding.
Northern Plains and Midwest:
Colder Winters: The northern parts of the United States, including the Northern Plains and the Midwest, usually experience colder-than-average winters during La Niña events. Average snowfall is expected.
Southern United States:
Drier and Warmer Conditions: The southern states, particularly the southwestern United States, often face drier and warmer-than-average conditions during La Niña. The Southeast may even be slightly wetter than average.
California:
Variable Effects are expected. La Niña’s impact on California can be less predictable. Looks like average temperatures and precipitation for this upcoming winter.
Northeastern United States:
Variable Winter Weather: The Northeast can experience a mix of effects, but La Niña often leads to more snowfall in the interior regions, while coastal areas may experience milder conditions.
A sneak preview of what to expect for fall into winter. The period from September to November is expected to be warmer than normal for most of the country this fall.
“Most of the nation can expect a wet Thanksgiving holiday, too, “except for way out in the Southwest,” Farmers’ Almanac Editor Sandi Duncan told USA Today, and Christmas “looks wet rather than white for most areas.”
Per the 2025 Farmers’ Almanac “The coldest outbreak of the season will come during the final week of January into the beginning of February, when frigid Arctic air brings a sharp plunge in temperatures almost nationwide, but especially across the Northern Plains. As this very cold air blows across the Great Lakes, heavy snow showers and snow squalls will bring intense bursts of snow to the lee (east) of the Lakes. “
