Sacramento, CA – The Pacific Southwest faces another warm, dry season as La Niña conditions strengthen across the Pacific ahead of Winter 2026. According to the National Weather Service Sacramento, cooler ocean waters near the equator typically deflect the jet stream north, steering storm systems toward the Pacific Northwest and leaving California and Nevada under prolonged dry spells. The result could mean limited Sierra snowpack, reduced reservoir recharge, and an early start to spring wildfire concerns.
Meteorologists expect occasional storm windows in January, but precipitation totals are forecast to stay below normal across much of the region. Daytime highs may trend 3–6 degrees above average, especially in central and southern valleys. Water managers in Nevada are closely monitoring snow levels in the Tahoe and Humboldt basins, where runoff is critical to summer supplies.
Fire agencies across California warn residents to avoid outdoor burning and prepare defensible space even during winter months. Despite cooler mornings, prolonged dry air will keep fuels receptive to ignition. While short-lived Pacific storms may still arrive, the broader La Niña pattern signals a quieter, drier Winter 2026 for both California and Nevada—one that underscores the region’s growing climate vulnerability.
