What’s waiting for the Philadelphia area this winter? The NBC10 First Alert Weather team unveiled its winter weather outlook for 2025-2026.
When is winter?
Winter starts on Sunday, December 21, 2025 and will last through Friday, March 20, 2026.
What will winter be like in the Philadelphia area?
We expect the beginning of winter in December and early January to have slightly above average snowfall but also cooler temperatures.
We will then see normal snowfall amounts and cooler, more average temperatures in February and March.
Forecast from Climate Prediction Center
According to the National Weather Service’s Climate Prediction Center, temperatures in the Philadelphia area and surrounding suburbs will remain slightly above average this winter. This winter, cold air will remain confined to the north-western part of the country while the south-west will remain warmer than normal.
As far as precipitation goes, the Climate Prediction Center believes the Philadelphia area will see normal amounts of snowfall and rain this winter.
What is La Nina?
La Niña is a weather pattern in the Pacific Ocean in which strong winds blow warm water across the ocean surface from South America to Indonesia. As the warm water moves westward, cooler water from the depths rises to the surface near the coast of South America.
How will La Niña affect winter weather in the Philly area this year?
The Climate Prediction Center believes there will be a weak La Niña for the Philly area this winter. Under a weak La Niña, the Philadelphia area will see slightly above average snowfall.
What is the North Atlantic Oscillation?
The North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) index shows changes in the strength of two recurring pressure patterns in the atmosphere over the North Atlantic Ocean.
A positive NAO – anywhere above zero – indicates mild and less stormy conditions while a negative NAO – anywhere below zero – indicates a storm track.
What does the NAO mean for the Philly area this winter?
The NAO shows stormy conditions in late November and then mild conditions throughout the first week of December. The NAO then shows stormy conditions in mid-December towards Christmas. This is during the time period when the Philly area may see more significant storms and cold air.
The NAO indicates that mild conditions will return after Christmas into the New Year.
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