BOSTON, Mass. – NOAA’s newly released Winter 2025–2026 outlook, issued Thursday, Oct. 16, points to a colder, snowier pattern taking shape across much of New England — and possibly a white Christmas from Connecticut to Maine. The seasonal guidance suggests above-normal precipitation and near- to below-normal temperatures for northern states, boosting odds of classic winter weather for holiday travelers.
According to the National Weather Service’s Climate Prediction Center, the upcoming winter could feature repeated snow-producing systems fueled by a strengthening La Niña. These conditions typically bring wetter, stormier weather to the Northeast while keeping the southern tier drier and warmer. NOAA maps show New England firmly in the “above-normal precipitation” zone for December through February, with probabilities highest across Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine.
Forecasters say this means snowfall potential remains strong through late January, with blizzard-like bursts possible if Arctic air aligns with coastal storm tracks. Equal chances farther south toward Connecticut and Rhode Island suggest variability — some weeks mild, others snowy. Still, chances for a snowy Christmas Eve in Boston or Portland are better than in recent mild winters…