NOAA: La Niña-fueled winter outlook highlights polar vortex intrusions, extra northern chills for the US (only 5.27 years left)

Fox Weather ^ | 10/16/25 | Emilee Speck

[Libloather]

A cold winter is likely in store for those in the northern U.S., with milder temperatures across the southern tier, according to NOAA’s National Weather Service winter outlook issued Thursday.

The outlook indicates the arrival of a La Niña climate pattern will have a heavy hand in the winter weather patterns from December through February.

After water temperatures in the central Pacific Ocean dropped to 0.5 degrees Celsius below average (-0.9 degrees Fahrenheit) NOAA's National Climate Prediction Center issued a La Niña Advisory in October.

Who will have bone-chilling cold and snow? The Northern Tier and Upper Midwest are looking at higher confidence of below-average winter temperatures – that means even colder than their typically frigid winters. Forecasts indicate wetter than average conditions for the Ohio Valley and southern Great Lakes region and most of Alaska.

[Adder]

with milder temperatures across the southern tier,

Yayyyy, southern tier!

Old bones will welcome mild temps...

[Dacula]

with milder temperatures across the southern tier,

Yayyyy, southern tier!

Old bones will welcome mild temps...

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Warmer temps and more sunshine are my favorites.