Atlanta, GA – The Southeast heads into Winter 2026 under the influence of a weak La Niña, tilting conditions toward warmth and dryness across Georgia and Alabama.
According to the National Weather Service Peachtree City, Pacific cooling often shifts the jet stream north, reducing rainfall and keeping Arctic air bottled up until late winter. Average highs may run several degrees above normal through January, favoring outdoor work and events but raising early-season drought concerns.
Forecasters expect longer dry stretches punctuated by fast-moving cold fronts that briefly drop temperatures before another warm rebound. The Georgia Forestry Commission warns of elevated wildfire potential, especially on breezy afternoons when humidity dips below 30 percent. Meanwhile, Alabama EMA officials urge residents to conserve water and monitor burn bans as reservoir levels recede. While occasional storms could return in February, the first half of winter appears quiet, warm, and windy.
Public safety agencies recommend checking smoke detectors, clearing yard debris, and protecting outdoor pipes during the few cold mornings likely to occur. By late February, forecasters say a more active storm track could develop, but until then, the Southeast should expect a predominantly mild La Niña winter marked by sunshine, low rainfall, and increased fire danger.
