Winter: Quick Facts

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The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

Nov. 7, 2026

News •

Forecasters are predicting a warmer and wetter winter. Here's how El Niño will affect your region • Oct. 28, 2026, 3:00 AM ET (NPR)

Israel Election 2026: Bezalel Smotrich calls on Winter to drop out, offers minister post • Oct. 21, 2026, 2:03 PM ET (Jerusalem Post)

Gantz's withdrawal could push Winter over Israel's electoral threshold • Oct. 21, 2026, 2:17 AM ET (Jerusalem Post)

Winter slams Benjamin Netanyahu, Bezalel Smotrich over attempt to force him out of 2026 election • Oct. 20, 2026, 2:24 PM ET (Jerusalem Post)

U.S. winter is likely to be wetter and warmer, forecasters say, and snow may shift south • Oct. 15, 2026, 4:43 PM ET (NBC)

Facts

Also Known As	hiemal period

Photos and Videos

Snow-covered trees and hillside overlook a frozen landscape in the southern Ural Mountains, Russia, under a clear blue sky.

A large tree with leaves turning orange in fall.

Understand how the tilted rotation of Earth's axis gives more prominent full moon in winter than in summer

Small squirrel peeking out of a snowy bank, with a blue circle surrounding it.

What is the significance of the winter solstice?

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Topics

Nuclear winter Today in History—January 5: A Winter So Cold It Rewrote History Why is summer warmer than winter?calendar polar vortex volcanic winter Winter solstice year Season Autumn Summer Spring Monsoon Why do we have seasons?

Iceland, Glacier lagoon (Jokulsarlon)

Winter Weather Words Quiz