Sept. 11, 2026, 6:08 a.m. ET
It’s not officially fall, but snow may be on people’s minds. In some regions, it could soon be on the ground as well.
The Farmers’ Almanac just released a forecast map showing when the typical first snowfall is expected to fall across the United States.
So far, the nation has had no snow yet. But that could change this weekend, as snow is expected in high elevations of the northernmost mountains, in line with the Farmers’ Almanac forecast.
This weekend, there’s a 40% chance of 4 inches or more of snow at the higher elevations of the Rocky Mountain Front in Montana, according to the National Weather Service forecast office in Great Falls, Montana. “Confidence is growing that the first impactful snowfall of the 2026-2027 snow season will occur this weekend,” the NWS said on Sept. 10.
Other parts of the northwest mountains could get snow, too, according to AccuWeather. “Some ridges and peaks in the Cascades and Olympic Mountains may receive accumulating snow this weekend,” AccuWeather senior meteorologist Brett Anderson said in a forecast.
How good is the Farmers’ Almanac at predicting the first snowfall?
Weather watchers will enjoy tracking the accuracy of the Farmers’ Almanac, which notes that its first snowfall map is a “climatological guide rather than a forecast for one particular storm.”
For example, the Farmers’ Almanac expects Delaware’s first measurable snowfall – not some flurries – to occur from late November to December. That covers the mean date for the first measurable snowfall (at least 0.1 inch) in Wilmington, Delaware, which is Dec. 15, according to Kevin Brinson, Delaware’s state climatologist, The News Journal reported. The News Journal is part of the USA TODAY Network.
The Farmers’ Almanac expects Michigan’s first snowfall in November. The Midwestern Regional Climate Center has found that much of Michigan has recorded average first snowfalls in November, but some spots get snow in October, and it’s not unheard of for snow in September, the Detroit Free Press, also part of the USA TODAY Network, reported.
And states such as Georgia, which are categorized as rarely getting snow, are coming off a winter with multiple storms, including some snow in Atlanta.
See when the Farmers’ Almanac expects snow, by region
Snow in August-September: While the higher elevations of Montana, Idaho, Washington and Wyoming may get an early-season storm, “an August or September mountain snowfall does not necessarily mean winter has arrived for good,” the Farmers’ Almanac says. “Early snow often melts quickly when warmer weather returns.”
Here’s the Farmers’ Almanac’s forecast for the first typical snowfall across the rest of the United States.
Northern Plains, Upper Midwest and Northeast
Snow in October-early November: This region includes parts of Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. It typically sees its first measurable snow in October or early November, according to the Farmers’ Almanac.
“By October, the first measurable snow becomes increasingly common” across this region, the almanac says. “Much of the northern Rockies, northern Plains and Upper Midwest typically sees its first measurable snow in October or early November.”
What does history tell us? The Farmers’ Almanac’s average timing of the first snowfall corresponds to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s expectations for this region.
Parts of Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wyoming, and small portions of California, Oregon, and Washington, typically receive snowfall by mid-October, according to a NOAA map tracking the first average snowfalls across the United States, posted online on Sept. 9 by AccuWeather. Much of Montana, North Dakota, Wyoming, Colorado, and parts of South Dakota, Utah, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Maine, Vermont, and New Hampshire typically get the first snowfall in late October.
Great Lakes, central Rockies, interior Northeast, higher Appalachians
Snow in November: This region includes parts of Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island.
In addition to the Plains and central Rockies, “the Great Lakes and interior Northeast often see their first measurable snow in November,” according to the Farmers’ Almanac.
NOAA says: The agency’s map compares well with much of The Farmers’ Almanac’s early November and November forecasts. Parts of South Dakota, Nebraska, Colorado, Nevada, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, New York, Massachusetts, Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Pennsylvania typically get the first snowfall in November, according to NOAA.
Central Plains, Ohio Valley, Mid-Atlantic interior, lower-elevation Northwest
Snow in late November-December: This region – parts of Oregon, California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Missouri, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Kentucky and Tennessee – often doesn’t get snow until late November or December, the Farmers’ Almanac says.
In this region, the timing of the first snow “can vary substantially,” the almanac says. The almanac notes that National Weather Service records from the central Plains show that some cities and areas may get their first measurable snow in November, while others don’t until late November or December.
NOAA says: The agency’s map is very similar to that of the Farmers’ Almanac. A wide swath of the United States, including parts of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Maryland, New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Maine, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Hampshire, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee record average first snowfalls from late November to mid-December, according to NOAA.
Deep South, Gulf Coast, lower Southeast, desert Southwest lowlands and Florida
Snow in December-January or rarely: This region, which includes parts of California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, South Carolina and North Carolina, is most likely to have snow in December or January, but “may go entire winters without measurable snow,” the Farmers’ Almanac says.”When southern snow does happen, however, it can be particularly memorable because communities encounter it so infrequently,” the almanac said.
NOAA says: Much of the South, according to the map, doesn’t typically get snow, or may not get snow until January or later.
The Farmers’ Almanac predicts a wetter winter for much of the United States with “snow, sleet, and surprises,” the season’s general theme.
The North will encounter quick bursts of snow and cold, while the Northeast may face a mix of rain, sleet, ice, and heavy wet snow, according to the almanac’s forecast. An active southern storm track is expected to bring wetter-than-normal conditions from Southern California and the Southwest through Texas, the Gulf Coast and the Southeast, the almanac says.
Contributing: Brandi D. Addison, Greg Giesen and Sarah Moore
Mike Snider is a national trending news reporter for USA TODAY. You can follow him on Threads, Bluesky, X and email him at mikegsnider & @mikegsnider.bsky.social & @mikesnider & msnider@usatoday.com.
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