As the calendar turns to November, Americans can expect one of the most changeable months of the year — a time when autumn’s fading colors meet the first signs of winter. From blustery “witch storms” in the Midwest to early snows in the Northeast and a tapering hurricane season along the Gulf, the month promises variety across the map.
Forecasters note that November’s “witch storms,” or powerful Great Lakes windstorms, often mark the month’s arrival. These intense low-pressure systems can cause widespread power outages and pose hazards for shipping on the Great Lakes. The legendary Edmund Fitzgerald was lost during such a storm in November 1975. The sharp temperature contrasts that develop across the nation this time of year help fuel these wind-driven systems, which can reach damaging strength.
For residents of the Northeast, November often brings the first measurable snow. On average, cities such as Pittsburgh see their first flakes by midmonth, with Boston following closer to Thanksgiving. The shift from lake-effect rain to lake-effect snow begins around this time, particularly in upstate New York and northwestern Pennsylvania.
Cloudier skies also settle in across much of the country. November is typically the gloomiest month for parts of the Midwest and Great Lakes region, with average cloud cover exceeding 70 percent in areas such as Buffalo, Cleveland, and the interior Northeast.
While snow and wind dominate the northern storylines, severe weather remains possible farther south. Recent Novembers have produced tornado outbreaks in the Plains and the South when warm Gulf air collides with advancing cold fronts. In 2022, 62 tornadoes touched down across the country in November, well above average.
The Atlantic hurricane season officially ends this month, and while tropical threats decline, late-season storms occasionally develop. In 2022, Hurricane Nicole made a rare November landfall in Florida — the first since 1985. Meanwhile, November signals the start of Florida’s dry season and the ramp-up of the West Coast’s rainy period, especially in California, Oregon, and Washington.
In short, November offers a preview of winter’s arrival and a reminder that America’s weather, especially in the Northeast, is never predictable for long.
Source: The Weather Channel