This weather pattern is now 'likely' this winter

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Now that we've firmly settled into an ENSO Neutral pattern, which is neither El Niño or La Niña, and we're almost beyond the "Spring predictability barrier" which makes ENSO forecasting less accurate, we're getting more confidence on what to expect this winter.For the first time this year since the Climate Prediction Center have forecasted the phases of ENSO, winter 2025-2026 is now likely to be ENSO Neutral. Previous outlooks had ENSO Neutral in the plurality, wit