Summer hasn't even ended, and many are already looking to winter for a break from Florida's heat.
An already powerful El Niño is working overtime to quiet tropical cyclone activity in the Atlantic, but that benefit comes with trade-offs Florida is only just starting to see. The Climate Prediction Center said it is strengthening, with a greater than 90% chance of a very strong, super event this fall and winter and a 69% chance that El Niño conditions are the strongest since at least 1950 from October through December.
Here's what Floridians should know about the weather this winter.
The Old Farmer's Almanac is predicting a fall with less precipitation and varied temperatures. States in the middle of the country may see warmer-than-usual temps this September and October, while coastal areas are expected to feel cooler than average.
The Southeast in general is expected to average about a degree below normal in September and October, the Almanac said, with the southern portions experiencing up to 4 inches less rainfall than normal.
"Northern Florida will experience cooler and drier conditions this fall, and southern Florida is also expected to be cooler," Almanac forecasters said, "with slightly above average rainfall."
The winter solstice, which marks the first day of winter 2026, takes place on Monday, Dec. 21 at 10:50 a.m. ET.
According to the Farmers' Almanac's 2026-27 winter forecast, Florida could be in for a wetter-than-normal winter this year, with an active storm track expected to bring frequent chances for rain across the Southeast.
The Farmers' Almanac expects one of the most active weather patterns to take shape across the southern United States this winter. Some storms in the southern tier could produce sleet, freezing rain or heavy, wet snow when colder air moves into the region.
An additional storm track along the East Coast could create more opportunities for precipitation from the mid-Atlantic into New England. While those systems are expected to have their greatest winter impacts farther north, Florida could still experience periods of unsettled weather associated with storms traveling up the Eastern Seaboard.
The Climate Prediction Center's latest seasonal outlook shows Florida seeing near-normal temperatures this winter, bringing temperatures on par with what we saw in 2025. The Southeast is also more likely to see above-average rain in winter.
Samantha Neely is a trending reporter for the USA TODAY NETWORK-Florida, covering pop culture, theme parks, breaking news and more. You can get all of Florida's best content directly in your inbox each weekday by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY, at https://floridatoday.com/newsletters.
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Do Farmer's Almanac, National Weather Service agree on Florida winter?