December is still a few months away, but it’s never too early to start planning for the festive month, especially when it comes to the weather. The National Weather Service has been projecting the December weather for months now, and other weather experts are getting in on the holiday month.
AccuWeather senior meteorologist Thomas Kines tells Men’s Journal in an exclusive message that December has one strong trend across the U.S. Using his data and research, it’s clear that the month will feel similar for a majority of the country, with some exceptions, and that means an interesting month of weather.
According to the experts at AccuWeather, the latest forecast for the entire United States suggests that temperatures could look quite different depending on where you live. The overall outlook points to a milder-than-usual December across much of the northern tier of the country, while southern states could see temperatures closer to or below normal. In other words, the start of winter may bring some interesting contrasts across the U.S.
These States Could Have a Warmer December
If you live in North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin or Michigan, there’s a good chance December could be warmer than usual. According to Kines, these four states and the Midwest are among the areas most likely to experience well-above-normal temperatures during the month. More broadly, the northern tier of the United States is expected to lean milder than usual. Meanwhile, temperatures across the southern tier states are forecast to be closer to or below normal.
The southern Rockies stand out as the area most likely to experience below-normal temperatures in December. So, while parts of the northern U.S. could get a relatively mild start to winter, the southern Rockies may be in for a colder month.
Where Snow Makes a Strong Start to Ski Season
For anyone eager to hit the slopes, Kines points to the Sierra mountains in California and the Cascade mountains in Washington and Oregon as promising places to find snow. These regions are expected to have a great start to the skiing season, offering some encouraging news for winter sports fans looking forward to December.
Snow isn’t the only weather concern in the December outlook. Kines also warns that southern states stretching from Texas to the Carolinas could experience severe weather and flooding from heavy rainfall. That could make December a month to watch for residents across the South, particularly as heavy rain brings the potential for flooding.
Overall, Kines’s December forecast for the United States points to a mix of weather patterns, from above-normal temperatures across parts of the northern tier to colder conditions in the southern Rockies. That’s echoed by the National Weather Service’s reports, as well. Meanwhile, Western mountain ranges could see a promising start to ski season, while heavy rain could bring severe weather and flooding to parts of the South. But for broader trends, according to the report, in every U.S. state, generally expect warmer weather and more mild conditions, except the aforementioned exceptions.
