Tire chains? Check!
Winter coat(s)? Check!
Extra gloves? Check!
Blankets, boots, emergency food supplies? Check! Check! Check!
It's probably a good idea to step up your personal packing routine because it looks as though the approaching winter of 2025-2026 could be a difficult one for much of the U.S.
Accuweather is suggesting a snowy and cold start to winter in December, a modest pause of bad weather in January and a return to xcolder, snowier conditions in February.
"It can be an intense stormy winter for areas of the country, particularly across the Midwest, Great Lakes, Ohio Valley, Northeast and parts of the mid-Atlantic," AccuWeather Lead Long-Range Meteorologist Paul Pastelok said in a post that appeared on Facebook.
The official National Weather Service outlook for the various regions of the country for winter 2025-2026 includes:
- Pacific Northwest: A cold and wet winter is likely, with above-normal snowfall and frequent storms.
- Northern Rockies and Plains: Cold and snowy conditions are expected, with increased snowfall potential and frequent arctic blasts.
- Southwest: Milder and drier than normal conditions are forecast, leading to below-average snowfall and potential drought risks.
- Midwest: Cold and snowy with a high chance of snowfall, especially in the upper regions, and potential for lake-effect snow.
- Northeast and Appalachians: A chance for increased storm activity, including potential blizzards and nor'easters. Warmer temperatures at lower elevations may lead to mixed precipitation.
- South: Cooler than normal temperatures with potential for "battle-zone" storms mixing snow, ice, and rain, with some rare chances for deep-South snow.
The Old Farmer's Almanac says:
Most of the country can expect a typical or slightly milder winter,. However, some regions should brace for what the traditional forecast calls "a sharper chill."
The almanac's forecast includes:
- Temperatures: Near normal to slightly milder across much of the country—except in the Appalachians, Southeast, Florida, and the Ohio Valley, where colder-than-average conditions are forecasted.
- Precipitation: Overall, drier than usual overall, with extended dry stretches likely. However, Florida, the Intermountain region, and the eastern Desert Southwest may see above-average precipitation.
- Snowfall: Near or below normal for most areas. However, greater amounts of snow are expected in much of the Carolinas, southern Appalachians, eastern Ohio Valley, southern Rockies, and eastern Desert Southwest.
JIC, see this helpful list of chain laws for each state.
