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ALT A car drives through a snowstorm in Broomfield, Colorado, in 2024. Credit: Bob Hyatt/NOAA
ALT The 2026-2027 U.S. Winter Outlook map for temperature shows the greatest chances for warmer-than-average conditions in the Pacific Northwest, northern Rockies, Midwest, Mississippi Valley, much of the East and Alaska. (Image credit: NOAA)
ALT A NOAA 6-10 Day Precipitation Outlook map valid for October 27–31, 2026, showing probability trends across the United States. Above-normal precipitation is expected across much of the central, southern, southwestern US, Alaska, and Hawaii, while below-normal precipitation is favored for the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and parts of the Pacific Northwest.
ALT A NOAA 6-10 Day Temperature Outlook map valid for October 27–31, 2026, displaying probability trends for the United States. Above-normal temperatures are favored for Alaska, Hawaii, and the central, southern, and eastern US. Below-normal temperatures are favored for parts of the Pacific Northwest, northern Rockies, and Northern California.
ALT A U.S. Drought Monitor map valid October 20, 2026, highlights conditions across Midwestern states. Northern Michigan's Upper Peninsula and Northern Wisconsin are experiencing the most intense drought while moderate drought covers large parts of Minnesota, Illinois, and Kentucky.
ALT This map displays the 60-day percent of normal precipitation across the central United States, valid as of October 17, 2026. Below-normal precipitation conditions stretch across parts of the Upper and Lower Midwest. Above-normal precipitation stretches across central areas of the Midwest, especially Iowa.
ALT A U.S. Drought Monitor map valid for October 20, 2026, showing varying intensity levels of dryness across the country. Significant severe to exceptional drought conditions span broad areas of the West, Plains, and South-Central states, as well as parts of the Upper Midwest. Abnormally dry and extreme drought conditions are scattered along the East Coast. The Central Plains, large parts of the Midwest, and Mid-Atlantic and mostly drought free.
ALT National Weather Service graphic warning of scattered severe thunderstorms across Arizona Wednesday Oct 21, highlighting large 2+ inch hail, isolated tornadoes, and damaging winds with highest risk near Phoenix, Flagstaff and Lake Havasu City; monitor forecasts.
ALT A Slight Risk (yellow, at least 15% chance) covers much of Arizona, including Phoenix, extending into southern Utah and western New Mexico. A separate Slight Risk area affects portions of coastal Southern California. A broader Marginal Risk (green, at least 5% chance) extends across portions of California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, and New Mexico.
ALT The Slight Risk shifts eastward, covering portions of eastern Nevada, southern Utah, much of Arizona, and western New Mexico, including Phoenix. A broader Marginal Risk encompasses surrounding areas of Nevada, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico, with a separate area near coastal Southern California.
ALT A closed low and associated moisture conveyor belt (PWATS 3-4 standard deviations above average) will bring a level 2/4 flash flooding risk. The mountain ranges, especially burn scars, of Southern California to the Four Corners region will see heavy rainfall (1-2 inches).
ALT Latest Key Messages for the October Nor'easter. A non-tropical low pressure system will develop and intensify well off the North Carolina coast early this week before slowly tracking north and exiting the region by late week. The storm will likely bring long-duration coastal impacts to portions of the Mid-Atlantic, especially for the North Carolina Outer Banks. Persistent and strong onshore winds will result in moderate coastal flooding, dangerous marine conditions and beach erosion, especially at high tide cycles, through mid-week from southern New Jersey through the North Carolina coast. The storm is likely to bring wind gusts in excess of 45 mph, most likely across the Outer Banks region and the Virginia Tidewater. Exact details on the magnitude and location of the impacts through the week are still evolving. Check weather.gov regularly for the latest updates.
ALT What are Santa Ana Winds? Strong downslope winds. Created over the Great Basin from high-pressure air masses. They are warm, dry, and can worsen forest fires.
ALT U.S. Drought Monitor map for October 13, 2026 illustrates nationwide drought intensity levels ranging from abnormally dry to exceptional drought. Heavy concentrations of extreme and exceptional drought (D3–D4) are highlighted across the Central Rockies, High Plains, and Pacific Northwest. Additional severe conditions affect parts of the Upper Midwest, Northeast, South Central states, and Puerto Rico.
ALT A NOAA map displays the 6-10 Day Precipitation Outlook valid from October 20–24, 2026. Most of the central and western United States, Alaska, and Hawaii show a high probability of leaning or likely above-normal precipitation, with the highest probability centered over the Southwest. Meanwhile, the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Ohio River Basin are lean below normal.
ALT A NOAA map displays the 6-10 Day Temperature Outlook valid from October 20–24, 2026. A vast majority of the central and eastern United States, along with southern Alaska and Hawaii, shows a high probability of leaning or likely above-normal temperatures. Conversely, much of the Far West leans likely below-normal temperatures.
ALT Map of the NOAA National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center’s U.S. Seasonal Drought Outlook valid September 17 through December 31, 2026, showing widespread persistent drought across the northwestern United States, along with widespread drought improvement and removal across the southwestern, central, and eastern regions. Areas of new drought development are forecasted primarily across part of the Washington and Oregon border, northern Idaho, and northwestern Montana.
