This handout provides information on the typical La Niña winter pattern; the precipitation implications; other factors; and the winter outlook for the Northeast region. Updated November 2021.

NOAA’s Regional Climate Services Program created these outlooks to inform the public about climate impacts within their respective regions. Each regional report contains easy-to-understand language, and anyone can access them through the Drought Portal.

Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook for the Gulf of Maine Region for March - May 2021. Dated June 2021.

Summer was up to 2°C (4°F) warmer than normal, being record or near-record warm in some locations.  Summer precipitation ranged from 50% of normal to 200% of normal.

Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook for the Northeast Region for June - August 2021.  Dated September 2021.

The Northeast had its sixth-hottest summer at 1.5°F above normal. This summer was among the 20 hottest for all 12 states.  The Northeast had its 10th-wettest summer with 116% of normal rainfall. This summer was among the 20 wettest for seven states.

Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook for the Gulf of Maine Region for March - May 2021. Dated June 2021.

Spring was up to 3°C (5°F) warmer than normal in the region.  Spring precipitation ranged from 50% of normal to 150% of normal. Sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies over the entire Gulf of Maine and Bay of Fundy were strongly above normal (greater than 2°C [4°F]) for the spring season. Anomalies were only slightly weaker around Cape Cod (around 1.5°C [3°F]) and over the Scotian Shelf (around 1.0°C [2°F]).

Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook for the Northeast Region for March - May 2021.  Dated June 2021.

The Northeast had its 15th-warmest spring at 1.3°F above normal. This spring was among the 20 warmest springs on record for 11 of the 12 Northeast states.  The Northeast saw 81% of normal spring precipitation, ranking in the driest third of all years. Two states had one of their 20 driest springs on record.