The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issued a winter weather outlook on October 15, 2026, indicating that a strong “super” El Niño developing in the Pacific Ocean is likely to influence Chicago’s winter conditions for the 2026‑2027 season.
Chicago office meteorologists noted that the powerful El Niño is expected to affect both temperature and precipitation patterns across the city, as part of NOAA’s broader seasonal outlook that examines potential impacts of a super El Niño on the Midwest’s weather in the coming months.