what does la nina mean for winter

La Niña means cooler than normal ocean temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean, which shifts the Pacific jet stream northward. For winter, this typically results in colder and wetter conditions across northern U.S. regions like the Pacific Northwest, Great Lakes, and New England, with more snow especially in the Pacific Northwest. Conversely, southern states usually experience warmer and drier winters, often with below-average snowfall and increased drought risk in the Southwest and California. This 2025-2026 La Niña is expected to be weak, so these effects might be less pronounced than in strong La Niña years, but the general pattern of colder, wetter northern winters and warmer, drier southern winters still likely applies. La Niña also tends to intensify the Atlantic hurricane season, though a weak event might have less impact on hurricane activity this year.