Europe Expects Mild Winter with Less Snow

(Patria) - According to the latest seasonal forecast from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), Europe can expect below-average snowfall during the winter of 2025/2026. The reason is the global phenomenon La Niña, the cold phase of the ENSO cycle, which is already affecting climatic conditions worldwide.

Severe Weather states that from November to January, the amount of snow will be below the long-term average, except in parts of Scandinavia and southern Great Britain. Smaller deviations are predicted for the central part of the continent. November will be mostly dry, December will bring a lack of snow with exceptions in the central Balkans, southern Great Britain, and parts of Scandinavia, while January may bring increased chances of snow in Great Britain and central parts of Europe.

In parallel, the British long-term model UKMO also announces a mild winter with below-average snow for most of Europe, with exceptions in the north of the continent. The UKMO model predicts a warmer November with minimal snow, while December and January maintain a similar pattern.

Experts explain that although La Niña strongly affects North America, its effect on Europe is weaker and indirect. Meteorologists expect La Niña to weaken during the winter, while a new warm phase of the ENSO cycle could follow in 2026.