El Niño Returns: What a Wetter Winter Could Mean for the Upstate

The Woodruff Times reported on June 20, 2026, in a story by intern DJ Sanders, that El Niño, a climate pattern marked by unusually warm water in the central and eastern Pacific, has returned. According to the paper, NOAA announced in June that conditions are present and expected to strengthen through fall and winter 2026-27, with forecasters putting the chance of one of the strongest events on record at 63 percent.

What it could mean for the Upstate: The paper says El Niño can bring a wetter and cooler-than-average winter, more rain in late fall and winter, more storm systems across the Southeast, and a higher risk of flooding in low-lying areas and along creeks. It may ease drought worries and tends to mean fewer Atlantic hurricanes, though one storm can still do major damage. Extra moisture could help groundwater and soil, but could also mean mud, erosion and weather delays for farmers, property owners and outdoor or construction work.

How to prepare: Clean gutters and drainage, check roofs and foundations and fix small leaks early, review flood insurance (standard homeowners policies generally do not cover flood damage), keep emergency supplies such as flashlights, batteries and medications on hand for power outages, and follow the National Weather Service and local emergency management.

The article stresses that El Niño changes the odds but guarantees nothing, and conditions vary from community to community.

This is our own summary of reporting by The Woodruff Times. Read the full story at the source link.