This Winter Will Be Unlike Any in 130 Years — 2026-27 US Winter Forecast

NOAA's official 2026-2027 winter weather outlook for the U.S. forecasts a season likely to break more than 130 years of weather records. That's largely because a super El Niño is already running the show — which is on-track to be the strongest in 1,000 years! El Niño is already impacting global weather patterns, but the United States might not feel the full impact until January or February. So what will that mean for skiing and snow lovers? Emmy Award-winning meteorologist Chase Cain breaks down the NOAA winter weather forecast region by region. From the potential of flooding and severe storms along the Gulf Coast to disappearing snow in the Great Lakes, the 2026-2027 US winter outlook could break all the rules. Parts of the South are be shoveling snow while the northern US feels record hot. Which mountains in the West are best positioned for a ski forecast full of powder? And are California and Florida prepared for the full impacts from this super El Niño? @climatecentraldotorg's Senior Data Analyst Jen Brady also joins Chase to compare this winter to 131 years of NOAA weather records. 👀 Watch my deep dive into the effects of this super El Niño for California this winter: https://youtu.be/PLUUZ86pK6w?si=ShntQHd1_36dXerz 📚 CHAPTERS: 0:00 - The Most Extreme Winter in 130 Years? 0:54 - Influence of Super El Niño 1:29 - Southeast & Gulf Coast Forecast: Floods & Tornado Risks 2:31 - Northeast & Great Lakes: Less Snow? 3:10 - Pacific Northwest Winter Predictions 3:25 - California Forecast: Atmospheric Rivers & Flooding 4:05 - Official Ski Forecast: Best Regions for Snow 4:27 - 2026-27 Warmest Winter Yet 5:50 - Why Winter is the Fastest-Warming Season 6:45 - More Snow in a Warmer Climate 8:23 - Lake Effect Snow 9:50 - Skiing & Winter Sports At-Risk 11:10 - More Warm Winter Days 🔗 LINKS & SOURCES: ⛄️ NOAA U.S. Winter Outlook, Dec 2026-Feb 2027: https://www.noaa.gov/news-release/el-nino-looms-large-over-us-winter-outlook 🌡️ Climate Central winter warming analysis: https://www.climatecentral.org/climate-matters/winter-warming-2026 🌊 Strongest El Niño in 1,000 years: https://www.theclimatebrink.com/p/the-strongest-el-nino-in-a-thousand ❄️ Snowfall trends across the U.S.: https://www.climatecentral.org/climate-matters/snowfall-trends-2024 🙋🏼‍♂️ I'm a real human meteorologist — subscribing is the best way to support independent weather and climate reporting: https://www.youtube.com/@ChaseCain?sub_confirmation=1 📺 WATCH NEXT: • What Happens When Storm Chasers Get Trapped? https://youtu.be/vpN0otHA310?si=YTw110JkiFZMr53X • Who Decides When a City Dies? America’s Home Insurance Crisis https://youtu.be/dlf5wJKCU5o?si=zwPTDJ2fCaz0VxTH • Behind the Scenes Covering the LA Wildfires https://youtu.be/vcQCZVcIzuQ?si=G75NVfrZINDC9VnA #ElNino #WinterForecast #winterweather #NOAA #skiing #skiforecast #superelnino #snowstorm #weather