2026 winter forecast heavy snow regions
The gist
NOAA's 2026-27 winter outlook tilts most of the U.S. mild, wettest along the Gulf Coast.
Forecasters disagree on snow, and a strengthening El Niño is the wild card.
How it unfolded
- Sep 17, 2026NOAA's Climate Prediction Center issued its seasonal outlook for Nov-Dec-Jan 2026-27, showing most of the country tilted mild, particularly the northern states, with the strongest precipitation signal along the Gulf Coast and through the Southeast.
- Sep 22, 2026Direct Weather's forecast for the 2026-27 winter season mapped average first-snowfall dates across the country and projected whether each region should expect an earlier or later start than normal.
- Sep 23, 2026Reporting on the Farmers' Almanac 2026-27 winter forecast for Kentucky described a winter of "snow, sleet, and surprises."