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Every August, we release our winter forecast, but you may be wondering, “what’s in store for fall,” and “when will the first snowflakes fall?” because fall comes first!
Fall officially begins on Thursday, September 22, 2022, at 9:04 p.m. EDT with the arrival of the Autumnal Equinox. After a scorching summer for many areas, cooler temperatures are always a welcome relief. So, when will this fall deliver those chilly days? Is there snow in the forecast? Here’s what the Farmers’ Almanac is predicting. Read on!
United States Fall Extended Weather Forecast 2022
2022 Fall Forecast Overview
Despite the summer heat, Farmers’ Almanac extended fall forecast calls for lower-than-usual temperatures nationwide. The cold will really begin to take hold during the latter half of November and continue right through the rest of the year. Bitter cold temperatures will become prevalent over much of the West in time for Christmas.
A chilling Halloween … with snow?
Scary movies, costumes, and things that go bump in the night won’t be the only chilling things this Halloween! An unusually early heavy fall of snow could hit the northern Rockies and Plains in late October!
Above normal precipitation is forecast for a wide swath of the central part of the country, including the Great lakes, Ohio Valley and Midwest as well as the Rockies and Great Plains.
Chilly, Cold Fall Ahead!
There is an old saying in New England, for instance, that October usually has 19 fair days. That might normally be true, but 2022 will be the exception—not the rule—with quite a few cloudy, windy, and showery days. That will set the stage for November, which will only be an extension of October’s unsettled weather pattern, except it will be turning colder with some snowflakes predicted.
Watch for some snow to enter the picture, especially over higher terrain areas. (Check out your forecasts here.)
What’s The Prediction For Fall Foliage?
We’ve all been gradually losing daylight since the summer solstice, and this is Mother Nature’s cue to begin the process of the changing of colors of deciduous tree leaves.
See peak fall foliage dates for your state here.
Weather plays a role in the intensity of fall foliage colors. “Drought is the enemy of a good fall,” says biology professor Howard Neufeld of Appalachian State University in North Carolina. “The trees have to be in a healthy state, not water-stressed, heading into the season.”
In New England—where many will be making the trek to view fall foliage— many parts of Maine and Northern New Hampshire are experiencing abnormally dry conditions, which may affect the vibrancy of colors.
You can check the current drought map to see the conditions in your area.
Will We See Snowfall In Fall?
Many locations will see their first snowflakes during November and there will be more than a few significant snowfalls before the official start of winter in late December. This will be especially true over the Rockies and Plains States, where hefty snows are possible right after the Thanksgiving holiday.
Thanksgiving Grace
If everything times out just right, most places could see generally fair weather for Thanksgiving, though Christmas could be unsettled with either rain or snow depending on your local temperatures.
Whatever your plans are for Thanksgiving this year, you’ll want to know the weather so you’ll be prepared. To get a detailed weather outlook for your holidays and the remainder of 2022, be sure to check out our long-range weather planner for your zone here. And get advance weather forecasts for the year ahead, order a copy of the 2023 Farmers’ Almanac now!
Canada’s Fall Extended Weather Forecast 2022
While many consider Labour Day the unofficial gateway to fall, it’s actually the Autumnal Equinox that ushers in the new season, which arrives on Wednesday, September 22, 2022, at 9:04 p.m. EDT.
2022 Canadian Fall Forecast Overview
As hot as the summer has been, the Farmers’ Almanac predicts that autumn will be colder than average nationwide. The cold will really begin to take hold during the latter half of November and continue right through the balance of the year. Bitter cold temperatures will become prevalent over much of the West in time for the Christmas/Boxing Day holiday. Above normal precipitation is forecast for a wide swath of the central part of the country, including the Great lakes, Rockies and Prairies.
Will Your Thanksgiving Be Squashed?
If timing is right, Newfoundland and Labrador could eek out fair weather for Thanksgiving. But there is a threat of windy/rainy weather from Central Ontario through Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia. From Western Ontario to all points west, it is expected to be generally fair—albeit cold!
Christmas could be unsettled with either rain or snow depending on your local temperatures. Many locations will see their first snowflakes during November and there will be more than a few significant snowfalls before the official start of winter in late December.
Watch for some snow to enter the picture, especially over higher terrain areas!
Will Snow Fall In Fall?
To find out when the first flakes will fall, be sure to check out our long-range weather planner here.
Join the conversation
Is fall your favorite season?
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What are you going to be for Halloween this year?
What is one recipe that you like to make for Thanksgiving?
