Network-wide coverage, immersive explainers and a deep bench of meteorologists will help Americans understand and prepare for what could be the strongest El Niño on record

With a very strong El Niño set to shape winter weather across the United States, The Weather Channel television network today announced the launch of El Niño Headquarters, a dedicated, multiplatform coverage hub that will track the event and its impact throughout the season. 

Forecasters say this El Niño has a strong chance of surpassing every event in modern record, from atmospheric rivers in the West to increased rain and severe threats in the East and far South. Whether setting up a heightened flood threat in California, storms and tornadoes across the Gulf Coast, or shifting snow and ice through the North, El Niño Headquarters gives viewers a go-to source to navigate these disruptions to their plans and safety.

2026 - 2027 Winter Outlook

NOAA's U.S. Winter Outlook, released October 16, calls for a winter shaped by a very strong El Niño. NOAA's Climate Prediction Center gives a greater than 90% chance of a very strong event this fall and winter, with an 83% chance it becomes historic between October and December, exceeding every El Niño on record since 1950. Forecasters informally call an event this strong a "super" El Niño.

• A stormier, wetter South. Wetter-than-average conditions are favored across the Southwest, the South and the East Coast as the jet stream shifts south and east.
• A milder North. Warmer-than-average temperatures are favored across the Pacific Northwest, northern Rockies, Midwest, Mississippi Valley, much of the East and Alaska.
• Drought relief, with a flood risk. Rain and snow could ease or end drought in parts of the Southwest, Southern Plains, Southeast and East Coast, but heavy rain on dry ground raises the risk of flash flooding and mudslides.
• Drier pockets. Parts of the northern Rockies, Great Lakes, Hawaii and much of Alaska lean drier than average, and drought could worsen in the northern Rockies.

El Niño coverage across TWC programming and platforms

• On every show, every day. El Niño Headquarters segments will be part of every show on The Weather Channel, morning and night, seven days a week. 
• Immersive Mixed Reality (IMR) explainers. The Weather Channel's signature IMR technology will take viewers inside the phenomenon to show how warming ocean water reshapes the jet stream, and what that means for storms, rain and snow at home. 
• The Weather Channel TV App has a dedicated El Niño Headquarters rail where all related programming and exclusive content will live on the home screen. 
• Social Media - follow The Weather Channel on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and X for updates, programming highlights and exclusives.

Three meteorologists, three views of the winter ahead:

“If prior strong El Niños are any guide, this could be a very active year for atmospheric rivers in Southern California, and that could have disastrous consequences. Back-to-back atmospheric rivers can bring massive flooding and landslides, fill reservoirs, and even threaten dams. Water is going to be a major player this winter, and communities across the Southwest and Southeast should be preparing now.” - Mike Bettes, on-camera meteorologist, The Weather Channel 

"Every El Niño is different, but all the signs with this one—from its strength to the influence we're already seeing along the West Coast—signal a very active winter that we haven't seen in a long time. We're already seeing the classic trappings of El Niño: a very strong subtropical jet stream that has suppressed tropical activity in the Atlantic, while the Eastern Pacific has seen record activity. Since this El Niño is so strong, we may feel its impacts well past winter, into spring and possibly even next summer." - Jen Carfagno, on-camera meteorologist, The Weather Channel

"The strong El Niño winters of 1997-98 and 2015-16 are good analogs for what this North American winter may look like on average. Both featured temperatures well above normal across nearly the entire country and above-average rainfall in the South. Keep in mind that these are seasonal averages, and weekly and daily weather can differ significantly. El Niño also explains only a minority of the difference between winters. Most of that variation comes from shifts in tropical thunderstorm patterns, disruptions to the polar vortex, and the natural variability of the jet stream itself." - Dr. Greg Postel, meteorologist and storm expert, The Weather Channel

Experts available for interviews

The Weather Channel meteorologists are available to journalists throughout the season for interviews. IMR explainer clips, graphics and b-roll are available to the media upon request.

ABOUT THE WEATHER CHANNEL TELEVISION NETWORK 

The Weather Channel television network is America’s most trusted and widely distributed weather network. For 43 years, it has led severe weather coverage with an award-winning team of meteorologists, scientists, and visual producers delivering the nation’s most comprehensive analysis of any media outlet. The network has earned multiple Emmy™ Awards, including honors in 2019, 2021, and 2024 for its Immersive Mixed Reality technology, and a 2025 Emmy™ Award for Outstanding Breaking News Coverage for its Hurricane Helene reporting. The Weather Channel Streaming TV App is available on Amazon Fire TV, Roku, Samsung, Android TV, VIZIO, and Xfinity Flex. Learn more at weathergroup.com

Media Contact: Robyn Ware, robyn.ware@weathergroup.com