How Does US Weather Shift From Fall To Winter?

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It's been a mild fall for many so far, but with the sun's angle continuing to lower in the sky comes the inevitable drop in temperatures that sends us grabbing our heavier jackets and coats.

Here's a visual look at how the colder high and low temperatures typically progress as we make the transition from fall to winter, using the latest 30-year normal data (1991-2020) from NOAA for November, December and January.

High Temperatures

• Nation's northern half: Temperatures drop from the 30s, 40s and 50s in November to the teens, 20s, 30s and 40s by December and January.
• Southern states: November's 60s and 70s in most of the South give way to widespread 50s, with 60s lingering near the Gulf Coast and 70s in southern parts of Florida and Texas.
• W​est: The region's drop in average temperature is more complicated given the Rockies higher terrain and in the influence of the Pacific Ocean near the West Coast, but you can see the general colder trend in the region below, with the Mountain West standing out as most dramatic.

H​ere's how average highs fall from Nov. 1 to their coldest point in winter for a few select cities:

• A​tlanta: 69 degrees on Nov. 1 >> 54 degrees in late-December and much of January.
• Dallas-Fort Worth: 72 degrees on Nov. 1 >> 56 degrees in late-December and early January.
• N​ew York: 59 degrees on Nov. 1 >> 39 degrees mid to late January.
• C​hicago: 55 degrees on Nov. 1 >> 31 degrees mid to late January.
• Salt Lake City: 58 degrees on Nov. 1 >> 37 degrees in late-December and early January.
• P​hoenix: 83 degrees on Nov. 1 >> 65 in mid to late December.

Low Temperatures

• Nation's northern half: Lows in the teens, 20s and 30s in November give way to single digits above and below zero, teens and 20s.
• Southern states: November average lows in the 30s, 40s, 50s and few 60s in South Florida drop to the 20s, 30s and 40s in most areas by January. A couple pockets of 50s hang on into January in west-central and South Florida and far South Texas.
• W​est: As mentioned with highs earlier, the region's geography means the drop in average temperature is highly variable. The Rockies and Great Basin stand out most with November's teens, 20s and 30s giving way to single digits above and below zero, teens and 20s.

H​ere's how average lows fall from Nov. 1 to their coldest point in winter for a few select cities:

• A​tlanta: 49 degrees on Nov. 1 >> 35 degrees in mid-January.
• Dallas-Fort Worth: 51 degrees on Nov. 1 >> 36 degrees late-December into much of January.
• N​ew York: 46 degrees on Nov. 1 >> 27 degrees mid to late January.
• C​hicago: 40 degrees on Nov. 1 >> 18 degrees mid to late January.
• Salt Lake City: 38 degrees on Nov. 1 >> 24 degrees late-December into much of January.
• P​hoenix: 59 degrees on Nov. 1 >> 44 degrees in late December.

Chris Dolce has been a senior meteorologist with weather.com for over 10 years after beginning his career with The Weather Channel in the early 2000s.