Map Shows US States Facing Heavy Snow Next Month
Map Shows US States Facing Heavy Snow Next Month
Jenny LyntonMon, October 5, 2026 at 2:41 PM UTC
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NOAA’s official precipitation outlook for November through January.NOAA / Climate Prediction Center
Snow season could get off to a busy start next month in parts of the country. A seasonal outlook from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center offers a first look at where wetter conditions could combine with colder air from November through January. The outlook doesn’t forecast snow directly, but where extra moisture meets cold enough air, there’s a greater chance it could fall as snow.
Much of the country is still expected to experience mild conditions, so a snowy start won’t be the norm everywhere. A few states stand out, and the last winter like this one is a reminder that November can still deliver heavy snow.
Which States Could See Heavy Snow in November?
Southern Colorado, New Mexico, Oklahoma and the Texas Panhandle have the best setup, based on the Climate Prediction Center’s November through January map. Since November marks the start of that three-month window, these states are among the first to watch closely. The region stands out for its wetter-than-normal precipitation outlook, while temperatures have an equal-chances forecast.
On the precipitation map, green shading covers nearly the entire southern tier, from Southern California across Texas to the Atlantic coast. It then continues up the East Coast into New England. The darkest patch, at 60% to 70%, covers parts of Georgia, Florida and South Carolina, where most of that extra moisture will fall as rain. The temperature map favors warmer-than-normal conditions across much of the northern and western U.S. Meanwhile, Colorado, New Mexico, Oklahoma, western Kansas and much of Texas show equal chances of above-, near- or below-normal temperatures.
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Is Colder Air Already on the Way?
Colder air could start reaching some of these states this month. Meteorologist Chris Nunley sees a real chance of mountain snow in the northern Rockies from around October 10 to 12, and he’s also watching a growing signal for Texas and Oklahoma around mid-month:
“Long-range guidance is increasingly suggesting that a stronger cold front could eventually push south through the Plains, potentially knocking temperatures below normal across parts of the region.”
Why Could November Be the Big Month?
Colorado’s mountains have fared well in November during El Niño years. OpenSnow meteorologist Sam Collentine found that Vail has averaged 123% of its normal November precipitation in past El Niño winters, before dropping to 70% in December.
The Weather Channel expects Colorado and Utah to see “consistent, often heavy snowfall events throughout the winter,” with a typical October or November first snowfall.
This story was originally published by Men's Journal on Oct 5, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Source: “AOL Breaking”
