NOAA Predicts Warmer Fall with Wetter Conditions in Southwest and Southeast
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has released its fall 2026 forecast, predicting warmer-than-average temperatures across most of the United States from September through November. The strongest warming signals are expected in the Pacific Northwest and northern Rockies, with above-average temperatures also likely in the West, Great Plains, Gulf Coast, Northeast, and Mid-Atlantic regions. Meanwhile, wetter-than-normal conditions are forecast for the Southwest, including Arizona and New Mexico, as well as parts of the Southeast, such as Georgia and the Carolinas. Conversely, drier-than-normal conditions are anticipated in the Pacific Northwest and areas around the Great Lakes. This forecast coincides with a strengthening El Niño event in the tropical Pacific, which has a greater than 90% chance of becoming a very strong event during the fall and winter months (NOAA, 2026). Source time: not specified. 
