El Niño Raises Power Outage Risk Across U.S.
Federal forecasters expect the climate pattern to keep strengthening through 2026, with the Southeast and Northwest facing the greatest disruption risk.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Forecasts
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A strengthening El Niño may increase the likelihood of weather-related power disruptions in parts of the United States. Federal forecasters said last month the pattern is expected to continue strengthening through 2026, and the odds remain high for a historic event exceeding the strength of previous events dating to 1950.
Why it matters
El Niño influences the odds of weather conditions rather than guaranteeing individual events, but it can shift storm tracks and precipitation patterns across the country. For U.S. residents, the forecast points to elevated risk of outages during winter storms.
Federal forecasters say the odds of a historic El Niño exceeding the strength of previous events since 1950 remain high. Individual storm impacts and outage locations are not yet determined.
The players
Federal forecasters
Federal climate forecasting bodies issue outlooks on El Niño strength and its expected effects on U.S. weather.
The details
Typical U.S. El Niño winter effects include wetter conditions across the South and warmer, drier conditions in the North. The Southeast and Northwest are among the regions facing the greatest risk of power disruptions, while the Northeast could see an increased threat from coastal storms.
Timeline
Late December through the rest of winter: storm track may shift toward California, Nevada and the Four Corners.
January and February: isolated outages possible in the central Plains from snow and ice.
Through 2026: federal forecasters expect El Niño to continue strengthening.
Seasonal Patterns
Federal forecasters expect El Niño to keep strengthening through 2026, a trajectory that places this winter's storm and outage risks within a multi-year pattern. The odds of an event exceeding the strength of previous events dating to 1950 remain high.
Residents in the Southeast, Northwest and Northeast should prepare for possible power outages during winter storms. Keep emergency supplies on hand and charge devices ahead of forecast storm systems.
The takeaway
El Niño shifts the odds of severe weather rather than guaranteeing specific outages, so monitoring forecasts through 2026 helps households plan. Preparing early for winter storms can reduce disruption from power outages.
Further reading
For more on the outlook behind these risks, see Forecasts in the weather and disaster section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Newsweek.
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