El Niño will likely shift weather patterns to bring more rain, but much snow still isn’t forecast for the northern states

Winter in the United States looks like it will generally be wetter and warmer, but not necessarily snowier, according to the federal government’s seasonal outlook and other meteorologists’ forecasts. You can thank or blame El Niño.

El Niño is likely to shift weather patterns to bring more moisture, but with it higher temperatures. That should help erase persistent western drought, but it is unlikely to make northern snow-lovers happy, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Noaa) said on Thursday.

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© Photograph: Selcuk Acar/Anadolu/Getty Images

© Photograph: Selcuk Acar/Anadolu/Getty Images

© Photograph: Selcuk Acar/Anadolu/Getty Images

After making landfall in the Florida Panhandle as a Category 2 hurricane, Isaias weakened considerably and headed north. Now, parts of the Southeast are at risk of flash floods.

© Zack Wittman for The New York Times

After making landfall in the Florida Panhandle as a Category 2 hurricane, Isaias weakened considerably and headed north. Now, parts of the Southeast are at risk of flash floods.

© Zack Wittman for The New York Times

Hundreds of thousands of people lost power, but towns near the landfall site in Florida were relieved that the hurricane damage was not worse.

© Zack Wittman for The New York Times

Many people in the storm’s path escaped the worst, but 4 people were killed and there was plenty of damage.

© Zack Wittman for The New York Times