Super El Niño to bring wetter, milder winter to U.S.
Super El Niño to bring wetter, milder winter to U.S.
US · Published Sep 16, 2026
A 'super' El Niño is developing, with climatologists predicting significant impacts on fall and winter weather across the central U.S.
According to NOAA, this El Niño is expected to be one of the strongest on record, driven by record-high Pacific Ocean temperatures.

Impact & Risks

The wetter conditions in Texas and Oklahoma could provide much-needed relief for drought-stricken farms, particularly for winter wheat planting. However, the increased moisture and atmospheric instability may also heighten the risk of severe storms. In the Midwest, milder winters could disrupt snow-dependent activities and agriculture, with potential early flowering of crops and increased pest activity. For Great Lakes states, warmer waters may fuel larger lake-effect snowstorms, posing additional challenges. While the impacts are not guaranteed, the intensity of this El Niño raises the likelihood of these outcomes.

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