What’s in store for autumn 2026
Fall is that beautiful time between heatstroke and frostbite.
So far this year we have been as cold as 14 below zero in January when we experienced a visit from the polar vortex and as hot as 97 when the heat dome that had been stuck in the southwest moved eastward bringing Uniontown that temperature.
Both of those weather systems over-stayed their visits and made for life-threatening conditions if people were not adequately prepared.
Weather predictions have improved dramatically over the last few decades giving most folks adequate time to prepare and get ready for these kinds of weather events. In the past it has been colder and hotter in Uniontown than this year, however recent decades have produced more visits from the polar vortex, and the heat dome seems to be coming more often.
The average number of days of 90 degrees or hotter weather for Uniontown in the past was 10 per summer and this has now been increased to 14 per season and may need to be adjusted upward as this year we had 16 and 2025 saw 28 days of 90 degrees or hotter.
Summers seem to be getting hotter and winters have been on the milder side with the exception of this past season.
There is no doubt that this year’s weather is being driven by a super El Nino that is affecting weather around the globe. Pacific waters have warmed by 4 degrees and this translates to a tremendous amount of additional energy that is available for storms. Much of the summer hurricane activity has been in the Pacific this year while the Atlantic has been free of these storms so far although this may change this weekend as a storm that formed in the Gulf of Mexico earlier this week looks like it will impact the Gulf States and possibly even bring rain to our area.
There are two dozen climate models from around the world that forecast El Nino conditions and they often don’t agree but this year they are consistent in predicting that this El Nino will last through the end of 2026 and it will be a super El Nino which it is turning out to be.
It’s time for governments around the world, including ours, to heed the warnings. The science has gotten pretty good at these forecasts and fall can be a great time to plan and be ready for what’s ahead.
Even as individuals we should take a little time and use our beautiful fall weather to get ready for the upcoming winter season. The current El Nino will create problems for much of the planet, however our region and northern states at this point look to be on the milder-than-normal side with cooler and wetter forecasts for southern states.
It’s good to remember that these are longrange forecasts and we will still have cold weather and some snow so take a look at your tires, batteries and heating systems and be prepared for what Mother Nature will bring.
After the rain this weekend there still should be several weeks of great fall weather to get out and enjoy the colors of fall.
The trend in recent years has been for the nice weather to last into early November.