Parts of the western United States could experience a colder, more wintry start to November, with Colorado and the central Rocky Mountains among the areas to watch as seasonal weather patterns shift.
A forecast highlighted by Men’s Journal points to changing conditions across the country following a period of warmer-than-average weather. AccuWeather meteorologist Chad Merrill said the Southwest and central Rockies could receive above-average precipitation, while mountain areas may see more snowfall than usual.
California is also expected to experience wetter-than-average conditions across much of the state, with Pacific storms forecast to move in during the first week of November. Higher elevations could see more wintry weather as temperatures and precipitation patterns change.
The outlook also identifies the northern Rockies and Northwest as regions to monitor. Parts of the far northern Rockies could experience below-average rainfall and snowfall, while the Northwest may also see less precipitation than usual.
Farther east, areas including the Dakotas, Great Lakes and Northeast are expected to experience below-average precipitation in some forecasts. This means that colder conditions will not necessarily translate into heavier snowfall everywhere.
The developing weather pattern comes as forecasters monitor a strengthening El Niño, a climate phenomenon that influences temperature and rainfall patterns around the world. Its effects vary by region, however, and seasonal outlooks cannot determine exact local conditions weeks in advance.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Prediction Center has also released a November outlook showing differing temperature trends across the United States, with warmer-than-average conditions favoured across much of the northern part of the country.
Forecasters caution that monthly outlooks are not day-by-day predictions. Residents should follow updated local forecasts as November approaches, particularly in mountainous areas where conditions can change quickly.
