Coldest winters expected this year as La Niña returns

Weather experts are warning that the winter of 2025-26 could be one of the coldest in decades, as signs indicate that La Niña, a climate phenomenon known for causing cooler sea surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific, may return this year.

La Niña tends to alter air circulation and jet stream behavior, often resulting in colder winters, longer frost periods, and heavier snowfall in many regions. Several climate agencies, including the United States’ Climate Prediction Center, have issued La Niña alerts as ocean warming patterns signal cooling in parts of the Pacific.

If La Niña develops as predicted, numerous countries may experience earlier cold waves, more frequent frost, and potentially snow at higher elevations.

Meteorologists have pointed out that even a weak La Niña event can still lead to significant drops in temperatures, affecting both daily life and local economies.