Winter Weather Forecasts: Stormy, Snowy Winter Ahead for Parts of the US

This year's winter could be particularly harsh and stormy in parts of the Midwest, Great Lakes, Ohio Valley, Northeast, and sections of the mid-Atlantic.

Kelly McBride Ni

Published: 10/2/2025, 9:01:30 PM EDT

Winter Weather Forecasts: Stormy, Snowy Winter Ahead for Parts of the US — A motorist clears snow from a utility vehicle after a winter storm plunged daytime high temperatures into the single digits and left up to six inches of snow in its wake in Denver on Jan. 20, 2025. (David Zalubowski/AP Photo)

The upcoming winter is expected to bring stormy weather, heavy snow, and below-normal temperatures to large portions of the central and northern United States, according to AccuWeather’s long-range forecast released Thursday.

The winter could be particularly harsh and stormy in parts of the Midwest, Great Lakes, Ohio Valley, Northeast, and sections of the mid-Atlantic, according to AccuWeather’s long-range meteorologists.

The forecast predicts winter temperatures below historical averages across the Plains and Midwest, with Arctic air frequently sweeping through these regions. As a result, heating demand is expected to surge well above average, especially in the upper Midwest, where some of the coldest conditions are anticipated.

Minneapolis, the Chicago suburbs, and areas north of Kansas City are expected to experience the most frigid air this winter. As a result, heating bills may rise significantly for many residents.

The National Energy Assistance Directors Association (NEADA) said in September that winter heating costs are rising, especially for households that rely on electricity. Average electric bills are expected to climb more than 10 percent, from $1,093 last winter to $1,205, driven by higher electricity prices, rising natural gas costs, and increased demand from large data centers.

Natural gas bills are also projected to rise, while households using heating oil or propane may see modest decreases, according to the NEADA.

Snowfall is expected to exceed historical averages in portions of the Midwest and Northwest, while much of the East Coast is forecast to experience below-average totals. AccuWeather said Buffalo, New York, could receive 90–100 inches of snow, near its historical norm. The city recorded more than 77 inches last winter.

December is projected to bring frequent storm activity around the Great Lakes, fueled by cold air intrusions that will trigger heavy lake-effect snow. Early-season storms are likely to originate in Canada, sweep into the Midwest, and then progress toward the mid-Atlantic and New England—some potentially intensifying into nor’easters, according to AccuWeather.

Further into the season, the storm track is expected to shift, channeling systems from the Plains and Mississippi Valley into the Midwest, Appalachians, and Northeast.

In the western United States, warm Pacific waters are predicted to influence winter patterns. If sea surface temperatures remain high, the temperature departures can be higher and precipitation much lower in the Northwest, Pastelok shared with AccuWeather.

California and the Southwest are expected to remain drier than average, which is predicted to intensify drought conditions. While the Cascades, Rockies, and northern Sierra should see some snowfall, this winter is forecast to bring fewer atmospheric rivers than last year.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, atmospheric rivers are long, narrow bands of concentrated water vapor in the atmosphere that transport moisture from the tropics toward the poles. Often described as “rivers in the sky,” they deliver much of the West Coast’s precipitation, releasing heavy rain and snow when they hit land and mountains.

Much of the South is predicted to remain relatively mild, but a major surge of Arctic air could still impact the region. According to AccuWeather, a shift in the weather pattern in late January or early February could allow significant cold air to move into Texas and the Gulf Coast, increasing the chance of snow and ice.

During this same period, the polar vortex has the greatest likelihood of dipping south, potentially bringing some of the season’s coldest temperatures across North America, according to AccuWeather long-range forecasters.

Meanwhile, Juneau, Alaska, recorded its first freeze of the season on Oct. 1. A winter weather advisory is in effect for parts of interior Alaska, where forecasts predict 3 to 9 inches of snow.