Fall is in full swing, but winter may be making an early appearance in parts of the country. According to weather experts, this is the week that snow could reach 11 states, bringing a taste of winter before the season officially changes.
The first day of astronomical winter in the Northern Hemisphere is Monday, Dec. 21, 2026, according to the Farmer’s Almanac. But the meteorological definition of winter has it starting on Dec. 1 for the meteorological. Either way, winter is coming early in these parts of the country, because October is well before winter.
Snow Could Reach 11 States During the Week of Oct. 26
Now, a new report from AccuWeather senior meteorologist Chad Merrill provided exclusively to Men’s Journal points to snowfall in the “northern Cascades, Sierra and Rockies,” which means across 11 states. That’s during the week of Monday, Oct. 26, through Saturday, Oct. 31, with the highest elevations in several major western mountain ranges expected to see some wintry weather. The forecast data indicates that parts of the northern Cascades, Sierra Nevada and Rocky Mountains could receive snow as colder conditions reach the higher terrain.
The research behind the forecast highlights a broad stretch of the West where residents in mountain communities may catch their first or next glimpse of winter weather. However, snow is expected to be concentrated at the highest elevations rather than spread evenly across all 11 states. That distinction in key, since conditions can vary considerably between mountain peaks and lower-lying areas within the same region.
These US States Could See Snow This Week
According to the outlook, the states in line to see some snowfall are Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, Arizona and New Mexico. These states span the western mountain ranges where elevation will play a major role in determining where snow develops during the forecast period.
The report also points to the possibility of a few snow showers in the western Dakotas. Any accumulation there, however, is expected to be minimal, making those areas less likely to see significant changes from the brief wintry conditions.
There is also some reassuring news for anyone concerned about hazardous winter travel. Merrill does not expect ice to develop in any part of the country during the Sunday through Saturday period. While snowfall at higher elevations can still affect local conditions, the forecast does not call for a widespread icing threat.
For now, the available data suggests that this will be a limited round of early-season snow, primarily affecting elevated terrain across the West. The forecast covers a bevy of states, but that doesn’t mean every community in those states will see flakes. Where snow does fall, elevation will be a key factor in determining local conditions as October draws to a close.
