Even though a lot of the country has been enjoying warmer-than-normal weather, November could bring a noticeable shift as the seasons change. According to AccuWeather senior meteorologist Chad Merrill, the northern Rockies and Northwest are among the areas to watch as November approaches, along with the higher elevations of the West.
The forecast, exclusively provided in a report to Men’s Journal, points to several regions where conditions could start feeling more wintry. The weather won’t look the same everywhere, with some parts of the country expected to see more rain than usual while others could experience drier conditions. As temperatures change throughout the month, certain regions may start feeling much more like winter is on the way. Here’s where to keep an eye on the weather as November gets underway.
These States Could Feel the Chill
Colorado and other parts of the central Rockies could see a noticeable change in conditions during November. Merrill expects the Southwest into the central Rockies to receive above-average precipitation, while the mountains could see more snow than usual. Although that doesn’t necessarily mean colder-than-average temperatures across the entire state, higher elevations could get an early taste of winter.
California is also worth watching, especially outside the far southern part of the state. The forecast calls for more rain than average across much of California, with Pacific storms expected to move into the state during the first week of November. Mountain areas could experience a shift toward more wintry conditions, making the weather feel quite different from the warmer days people may have been enjoying.
The far northern Rockies are another region to watch as the month progresses. AccuWeather expects below-average rainfall and snowfall across the area, so a quieter precipitation pattern is possible. However, less precipitation doesn’t necessarily mean warmer weather, and conditions can vary depending on where you are.
The Rest of the Country and These Particular States Could See a Different November
The Northwest is also expected to have less rainfall than usual in November, with below-average snowfall likely. While the report doesn’t identify specific states as the coldest, the region’s mountain areas remain worth watching as the weather transitions toward winter.
Farther east, the outlook includes the Dakotas, the far northern and Upper Mississippi Valley, the Great Lakes and the Northeast among the areas expected to receive less precipitation than average. Snowfall is also forecast to be below normal across these regions, meaning a colder month doesn’t necessarily guarantee more snow.
So, the northern parts of the country and the higher elevations of the West are worth keeping on the radar as November approaches. That research is in line with the National Weather Service’s reporting, too. With the weather beginning to change after a warmer-than-normal stretch, the coming weeks could offer a clearer picture of where winter conditions are starting to settle in.
