The Old Farmer’s Almanac has issued a forecast for Halloween weather across the country, predicting chilly temperatures and rain that could disrupt trick-or-treating and other activities. Some states might also have snow on the ground.
Halloween falls at a seasonal crossroads, meaning weather conditions can vary widely from year to year. While some Halloweens bring mild temperatures and classic fall weather, others have been marked by early winter storms, freezing temperatures and even accumulating snow. Although widespread winter-like conditions are not expected this year, parts of the U.S. could still see snow on the ground by October 31.
Old Farmer’s Almanac Halloween Week Forecast
The Old Farmer's Almanac suggests "chilly conditions" across much of the U.S. on Halloween, with rain possible in parts of the Northeast, Midwest, Southeast, South Central states, and Northwest, according to an outlook included within the almanac's 2026 fall forecast.
The Old Farmer's Almanac executive editor Heidi Stonehill told Newsweek that the almanac is predicting snowflakes to fall on Halloween in two regions, namely the Upper Midwest, where weather will be "mild with rain and snow showers," and Alaska, where weather will be "cold with snowy periods in all areas of the state except the panhandle, which will be mild with rainy periods."
AccuWeather meteorologists not affiliated with The Old Farmer's Almanac said snow could already be on the ground in some states by Halloween, especially in some high-elevation areas.
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What Areas in the US Are Most Likely To Get Snow on Halloween?
Currently, meteorologists are not tracking any winter storms that could cause widespread Halloween disruption.
"We are looking at the only areas that may see any snow being in the higher elevations of western Colorado, western Wyoming, eastern Idaho and Utah," AccuWeather senior meteorologist Alan Reppert told Newsweek on Tuesday. "Most lower elevations will see little snow in those states as temperatures will remain too warm for any snow. Outside of that, there will be some rain showers over Arizona and southern California, rain showers over Texas into Oklahoma, a few showers over South Florida and another area of showers over coastal Washington and Oregon."
What Does The Old Farmer's Almanac Say For Thanksgiving?
When it comes to Thanksgiving, the chances of snow are higher than for Halloween. The Old Farmer's Almanac predicted possible snow in the Northeast, Atlantic corridor, Appalachians, lower Great Lakes, Upper Midwest, and in Alaska. Rain is possible in the Southeast, Florida, the Pacific Northwest and Hawaii. The warmest weather is predicted for Texas and Oklahoma, in the Intermountain region, the Desert Southwest, Pacific Northwest and Hawaii. Sunny weather is likely in the High Plains, Deep South, Pacific Southwest and Desert Southwest.
US Snow Outlook for This Winter
As winter fast approaches, El Niño continues to strengthen in the Pacific Ocean, begging the question of how it will influence winter weather across the United States. El Niño is a climate pattern characterized by warmer-than-average ocean temperatures in the tropical Pacific that can alter jet stream patterns and influence temperature and precipitation across North America during winter.
Stronger El Niño years often favor a stormier southern tier of the United States while bringing above-average temperatures to parts of the northern U.S. That means some states that normally boast high winter snowfall amounts might see less snow than usual this winter.
The Great Lakes region occupies more of a middle ground. States such as Wisconsin and Michigan frequently benefit from lake-effect snowfall, but warmer-than-normal conditions associated with a strong El Niño can complicate the forecast.
Seasonal outlooks from the National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center show that northern states, including parts of the Northeast, are expecting above-average temperatures and below-average precipitation from November through January. Meanwhile, above-average temperatures are expected in the Southeast, particularly in states that aren't impacted by snowfall, such as Florida, meaning the precipitation will fall as rain.
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Jenna deJong and Tony Phillips.