Snowfall Sweeps Across the West as East Awaits Winter's Arrival

As of October 17, 2025, the winter forecast is starting to take shape, and some parts of the country have already seen their first snowfall. A federal weather data map shows that much of the western United States, particularly the northern Rockies and Sierra Nevada, has already experienced snow in the mountains. This is not unusual, as the snow season begins much earlier in the higher elevations of the western U.S. compared to other regions.

In fact, the high mountain ranges of the West Coast are considered the snowiest places in America, and possibly the world, according to weather historian Christopher Burt. Meanwhile, the rest of the country is still waiting for winter's arrival. The only spot in the East that has picked up measurable snow so far is northern Maine.

The Great Lakes region is also notorious for its early season lake-effect snowfall, which can begin in late October or November. These intense snowfalls are caused by cold, dry air blowing over the milder lake waters, picking up moisture and heat. The infamous snow belts of the Great Lakes have been known to produce incredible early season snowfall, such as the epic event in November 2014 that dumped over 5 feet of snow in areas just east of Buffalo, New York.