Is a La Niña winter coming? NOAA releases update for 2025

(NEXSTAR) – Odds are looking better that La Niña will start soon, the Climate Prediction Center said Thursday, but its impacts may be short-lived this year.

There's a 71% chance that a La Niña pattern will form between October and November of this year, the Climate Prediction Center, a division of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), said.

Typically, La Niña (and its counterpart, El Niño) strengthens and reaches its peak in the winter months. However, this year could be a little different.

As we enter peak winter, between December 2025 and February 2026, the chances of seeing a La Niña drop to about 54%. That could mean that this year’s La Niña ends up being short and weak, much like the one we saw last winter.

At this point, it looks like La Niña is favored to end before winter is over.

How does La Niña impact winter weather?

La Niña impacts the position of the polar jet stream, therefore influencing the weather we see on land. The jet stream divides the country in two, bringing wetter weather to the Pacific Northwest and Ohio Valley. Meanwhile, we typically see dry, warm weather in the southern states.