Southeast Wisconsin: El Niño Reduces Chances of White Christmas
Southeast Wisconsin's chances of a white Christmas in 2026 are significantly reduced due to the presence of a very strong El Niño, which is expected to persist through winter and early spring. According to NOAA and the Climate Prediction Center, the seasonal outlook for November, December, and January predicts above-average temperatures across Wisconsin, which will likely lead to lower snow totals. Historically, Milwaukee has experienced a white Christmas 43% of the time during the 1991-2020 climate period, but during strong El Niño events, this likelihood drops to just 25%. A white Christmas is defined as having at least one inch of snow on the ground at 7 a.m. on December 25.
