08/18/2026
There’s another winter scenario worth watching for 2026–27. Some pattern signals suggest that if stronger blocking develops, colder air could push farther south and east than in the earlier setup, with the potential for a more active winter-weather corridor across parts of the South and East.
The blue area on the map represents the colder, more winter-favorable zone, while the pink area highlights where rain, snow, sleet, or freezing rain could become part of the pattern. A negative NAO/AO pattern can help shift the jet stream farther south and increase the potential for cold-air outbreaks and storm activity.
It’s still early, so this is a possible scenario, not an official winter forecast. But the idea of winter activity shifting farther south and east is something worth watching as we get closer to the season.
Source: NOAA Climate Prediction Center / NOAA Climate.gov.
