Climate change or fully deranged
Yes, snow in late November is very common across much of the United States and is well-documented in historical weather records dating back over a century. While the northern and mountainous regions often see their first measurable snow (at least 0.1 inches) in October, much of the Midwest, Northeast, and interior West typically experiences it by mid-to-late November. Southern areas might wait until December, but even there, November snow events aren't unheard of. I'll break this down with some context, historical examples, and what's happening right now.Historical Records of Late November Snow in the USWeather records from the National Weather Service (NWS), NOAA, and regional climate centers show that November snow is routine in many areas, with some of the most notable events occurring around Thanksgiving week (late November). Here's a quick overview:Average First Snow Dates: Based on 30-year climate normals (1991–2020), the first measurable snow typically arrives by late November in places like Chicago (November 14), New York City (November 29), and Denver (October 18, but with variability into November). In the Midwest and Northeast, over 70% of locations see snow by November's end.
Notable Late-November Snow Events:November 20–21, 2015 (Midwest Blizzard): One of the snowiest early-season storms on record, dropping 19 inches in Chicago (the city's highest first-snow total ever) and up to 18 inches in South Dakota and Wisconsin. It set records for November snowfall in Madison, WI (second-highest two-day total since 1884) and caused over 800 flight cancellations.
November 17–21, 2014 (Buffalo, NY Lake-Effect Storm): 88 inches fell in Buffalo, the heaviest November total ever recorded there, paralyzing the region.
November 23–26, 2019 (Thanksgiving Week Blizzard): Up to 21.7 inches in Duluth, MN (a November two-day record), with widespread impacts from the West Coast to the Midwest.
November 24–25, 1971 (Northeast Storm): 22.5 inches in Albany, NY—one of the largest single November totals on record for the city.
November 20, 1879 (Southeast Flurry): 1.5 inches in Wilmington, NC, still the earliest measurable snow on record for that area.
These events highlight how late November often brings the season's first big snow due to cooling temperatures and early winter storms. Records go back to the late 1800s for many stations, and November snow has been noted in every decade since.For a visual sense of earliest records across cities, here's a table of select examples (measurable snow ≥0.1 inches):City/Region
Earliest Recorded Snow Date
Amount/Notes
New York City, NY
October 10, 1873
Trace; typical first snow by late November
Chicago, IL
November 20, 2015 (first storm record)
19 inches; average first: Nov 14
Denver, CO
September 2, 1961
But late Nov common; 2025 first snow tied for 4th-latest on Nov 17
Buffalo, NY
October 6, 1903
Heavy Nov events frequent due to lake-effect
Atlanta, GA
November 11, 1968
Rare, but possible in cold snaps
Wilmington, NC
November 20, 1879
1.5 inches; earliest on record
Sources for this data include NOAA's Climate.gov and NWS regional summaries.Current Snow Reports (as of November 22, 2025)Snow is indeed falling right now in parts of the US, aligning with the historical norms for this time of year. Recent arctic blasts and lake-effect bands have brought fresh snow:Midwest/Great Lakes: A major storm on November 20–21 dumped 4–7 inches in Milwaukee and Madison, WI (second- and tenth-highest late-fall totals on record), with up to 18 inches in southern Wisconsin (e.g., Beloit) and 17 inches near Footville. Chicago saw 1–3 inches earlier in the week.
Northeast: Lake-effect snow continues downwind of the Great Lakes, with 18 inches reported in Michigan's Upper Peninsula (Negaunee) over the Veterans Day weekend. Western NY is seeing ongoing flurries.
South/East Coast: Record-early flurries hit the Carolinas and Virginia on November 10–11, with 0.1 inches in Lumberton, NC (earliest ever) and dustings along the NC/VA coasts. Wilmington, NC, nearly matched its 1879 record.
West/Mountains: Higher elevations in Colorado, the Rockies, and Pacific Northwest have 1–3 feet of base snow from early November storms. Arizona Snowbowl opened early on November 20 with 37 inches from a recent system.
If you're in a specific US location, I can dig into more tailored reports—just let me know! Overall, this November's snow aligns with patterns seen in records from the 1800s onward, driven by seasonal cooling and storm tracks.
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