{
  "id": 14757986,
  "title": "Winter may bring snow and rain to some drought-stricken U.S. states",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/15/winter-may-bring-snow-and-rain-to-some-drought-stricken-u-s-states",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-15T18:02:05.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "CBS News",
    "slug": "cbs-news",
    "url": "https://www.cbsnews.com/news/winter-snow-rain-drought-stricken-states-noaa-forecast/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The winter season may usher in much-needed precipitation to regions of the United States that have been grappling with drought, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's latest winter weather forecast. However, the forecast predicts drier-than-average conditions for much of the northern part of the country, largely due to an exceptionally strong El Niño. The NOAA's winter forecast, released on Thursday, focused on temperature and precipitation predictions for the U.S. from December to February. El Niño, a climate pattern influenced by tropical Pacific Ocean temperatures, is expected to significantly impact weather patterns worldwide. Experts cautioned that just because El Niño is considered the \"warmer\" phase of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation cycle, it doesn't guarantee milder winter weather across the board. Ken Graham, director of NOAA's National Weather Service, emphasized that a strong El Niño does not diminish the severity of winter weather risks. He noted that decades of data from past El Niño events suggest stormier conditions in the southern U.S. this winter, which could provide relief for drought-stricken areas. Nonetheless, he cautioned that excessive precipitation on dry soil could trigger damaging flash floods and mudslides, urging communities in affected regions to prepare accordingly. The southern part of the U.S., encompassing the Southwest, Southeast, and parts of the East Coast, is likely to experience wetter-than-average conditions throughout the winter due to El Niño. Conversely, areas of the Great Lakes, northern Mountain West, Hawaii, and much of Alaska may encounter drier-than-average winters this year. In some regions, El Niño's impact on rainfall and snowfall may be minimal. The outlook indicates that certain areas in the Intermountain West, northern Plains, and Ohio Valley have an equal chance of experiencing below-average, near-average, or above-average precipitation amounts during the season. For some states, the winter will bring warmer-than-average temperatures. NOAA's forecast predicts warmer-than-average conditions for large sections of the country, including parts of northern California, the Pacific Northwest, Midwest, and Mississippi Valley, as well as much of the eastern U.S. Alaska is also expected to experience warmer-than-average temperatures. The southern half of the country is generally anticipated to see temperatures near or slightly below normal, with near-normal conditions expected in parts of the Southeast, including Florida. The outlook predicts an equal chance of below-average, near-average, or above-average temperatures for much of the Southwest and Hawaii. It is expected that the upcoming winter weather will alleviate drought conditions for extensive areas, including drought-affected parts of the Southwest, southern Great Plains, and some eastern coastal regions. However, drought conditions could also emerge or intensify in other locations, including those that have experienced prolonged periods of inadequate rainfall, such as Oregon and eastern Washington, as well as parts of the northern Rockies.",
  "summary": "The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's new winter weather outlook predicts wetter-than-usual conditions in some states plagued by long-standing drought.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}