Much of the country will see more snow and colder temperatures than last year. (Credit: Artic_photo/Shutterstock)

Many states could see colder temperatures and more intense snow storms this winter, according to a new report from AccuWeather.

The report is predicting a “bookend” winter for the central and eastern U.S., with the biggest storms happening at the start and end of the season. Meteorological winter starts on Dec. 1.

"It looks to be an intense and stormy winter for certain areas of the country, particularly across the Midwest, Great Lakes, Ohio Valley, Northeast and parts of the mid-Atlantic," said Paul Pastelok, AccuWeather’s lead long-range meteorologist, in a statement.

Snowfall will be higher than last year in much of the Northeast, including Philadelphia, New York City and Boston. But it might be below historical averages if late-season storms produce a rain-snow mix instead of just snow.

In the Midwest, Plains and West, winter will be snowy, with snowfall predicted to match or exceed historical averages in most cities.

Temperatures will drop early in December. There will be a brief warm-up in January before frigid air returns in February. A polar vortex could bring some of the coldest air of the year in late January and early February, with the potential to bring snow and ice as far South as Texas and the Gulf Coast.

One outlier could be the West and the Rocky Mountains. A marine heat wave is raising water temperatures much higher than historical averages in the Pacific Ocean. If those temperatures remain high, they could mean warmer weather and less precipitation for the Western part of the country.

For California, the Southwest and the Rocky Mountains, that could create drought conditions and boost wildfire risk in 2026.

"If the pattern becomes quite amplified, then near-record high temperatures are possible," Pastelok said.

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