Maps Show US Forecast for Fall as El Niño Strengthens
AccuWeather says a strengthening El Niño may drive widespread changes in U.S. weather this fall, from rain to drought.
El Niño is expected to significantly impact weather patterns across the United States this fall, according to AccuWeather forecasts. The strengthening El Niño is set to bring a mix of heavier rainfall, altered drought patterns, warmer temperatures, and varying risks of flooding and tornadoes. AccuWeather's long-range expert, Paul Pastelok, explains that a strong El Niño can reshape weather patterns, leading to wetter conditions in some areas and drier patterns in others, as well as warmer temperatures in certain regions.
The fall forecast highlights various regional departures from historical averages, with wetter-than-normal conditions expected across much of the Southwest, including parts of California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, and New Mexico. Meanwhile, a broad zone of increased rainfall is forecast from the western Gulf Coast through the lower Mississippi Valley and into the Southeast, affecting areas around Houston, Mobile, and Atlanta.
In contrast, the Pacific Northwest is predicted to experience less snow and rain, while a drier pattern is forecast from parts of the Great Lakes into the Northeast. Warmer-than-average conditions are expected across a wide stretch of the northern Plains and upper Midwest, as well as along the Southeast coast and Florida. The transition into fall is projected to be slower than usual across much of the eastern U.S., while a small area of the central Rockies is forecast to see a faster transition.
AccuWeather's foliage forecast suggests that peak-quality foliage is expected in the northern tier of the country, particularly from the Upper Midwest into the Great Lakes and interior Northeast, as well as along parts of the Pacific Northwest coast. The harvesting outlook indicates the best conditions across the northern half of the country, with fair conditions expected in much of the southern Plains, Ohio Valley, Mid-Atlantic, and parts of the Southeast.
Brief written by urgent.news from Newsweek's own syndicated text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
