The Farmers’ Almanac is predicting a fall season marked by a warm start, a cooler finish and increasingly unsettled weather across much of the U.S. In its Fall 2026 outlook, the publication says autumn will begin with “widespread warmth” in September before a cooling trend develops and gradually spreads from north to south. By November, it forecasts cooler temperatures across most regions, with rain and storm systems becoming more common as Thanksgiving approaches.
The publication says September is expected to feel more like late summer in many areas, with warm temperatures lingering across broad parts of the country. The outlook says the Northeast could see pleasant periods during the month, while the Southwest and much of the West are expected to remain relatively dry. The North Central states may also see several dry spells early in the season, though the Farmers’ Almanac says signs of a seasonal shift should begin appearing across northern states as September progresses.
October is expected to bring a more noticeable change toward fall weather. The Farmers’ Almanac says the North Central states and Great Lakes region are likely to move into colder, more winterlike conditions earlier than other parts of the country. The publication says those regions could see some of the season’s earliest and most persistent chilly weather, with the possibility of snow in higher elevations by mid-October.
The Southwest is forecast to begin the season with typical heat before temperatures drop more significantly during October. The Southeast is forecast to stay warmer for longer than much of the country, with a more noticeable drop in temperatures not expected until later in fall. According to the Farmers’ Almanac, colder air is expected to spread across much of the country by November, including into parts of the South.
The outlook also calls for a wetter late fall, with more frequent rain and storm systems before Thanksgiving. Northern regions are expected to see fall arrive more abruptly, with the forecast moving from a gentler start to colder and wetter conditions later on. The Farmers’ Almanac also released a map summarizing its fall forecast by region: A Farmers’ Almanac spokesperson told Newsweek the publication does not issue long-range forecasts for Alaska and Hawaii because both states have relatively stable climate patterns and highly varied terrain that can produce dramatically different weather.
Instead, the Almanac said it provides climate summaries based on National Climatic Data Center data, including a five-zone breakdown for Alaska to reflect the state's diverse conditions. The Farmers’ Almanac also said the first snow opportunities are expected in colder northern regions. Higher elevations in the North Central and Great Lakes areas could see snow by mid-October, with more winterlike conditions developing as the season continues.
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