Winter Outlook Travel Tips from a Meteorologist

As winter travel resumes, there are a few things you may want to keep in mind when planning your getaway to maximize your chances of the weather cooperating, given the latest outlook.

The latest perspectives: At the time of this article's publication, meteorologists at Atmospheric G2 and The Weather Company were forecasting a warmer-than-average winter across much of the country, except for the Northwest and Northern Plains, which could be colder than average. You can see the monthly details and reasoning in our article here.

(Further improve your forecast with our detailed hour-by-hour breakdown for the next 8 days – available only on our Premium Pro Experience.)

How to use it for your travel plans: This long-term outlook is meant to be a snapshot of the overall nature, in this case, of the three months from December to February.

Meteorologists cannot predict a day's weather beyond about two weeks. So we can't tell you that it will rain for your winter getaway to the Caribbean in two months.

And there will certainly be cold spells in the South and East, as well as heat waves in the Northwest, this winter.

I love traveling as much as meteorology.

When I'm planning a vacation, in addition to looking at the weather typically, I also use Outlook to see if I can pick a location that increases the chances that the weather will cooperate, whether it's a lot of snow for a ski trip or warm sun. for a getaway from the cold.

It's certainly not a guarantee, but think of it like adjusting your financial portfolio to eliminate a bit of excess risk.

So, I'm happy to share some of my thoughts on the upcoming winter, from a travel perspective.

Cascades, a boon for the Northern Rockies

If you can't wait to hit the slopes, your best place for heavy snow this winter will be the Cascades and northern Rockies, from Washington and Oregon to Idaho, Montana and northern Wyoming.

This is where we expect the best combination of colder and wetter than average conditions this winter.

Of course, much of the West will generally have plenty of natural and artificial snow.

But again, if you want the highest ratings, head north.

Don't mind the rain

Before you leave the Northwest, if you've ever wanted to visit Seattle, Portland, or Vancouver, British Columbia, you may be able to get a cheaper flight in the winter.

Indeed, the dry season in the Northwest is in summer and the winter months are among the wettest of the year.

So if you don't mind Seattle's classic drizzle or light rain, visit in winter. It seems more on-brand anyway, right?

A beautiful winter in Florida

Snowbirds – those who flock to Florida every winter for weeks or months – this advice isn't really for you. We know you're heading south, or already there.

But if you're planning a vacation, this winter might be better in Florida than even its usual warm, sunny winter.

Indeed, not only is the winter of 2024-2025 expected to be warmer than average, but it is also expected to be warmer than average. drier than usualaccording to NOAA's Climate Prediction Center.

So your chances are better this winter of enjoying a stretch of good winter weather in the Sunshine State.

Caribbean, of course

But even Florida experiences at least a few brief cold spells each winter. And if it happens while you're on vacation, it's frustrating. Instead of lounging at the pool or beach, you wear a hoodie.

I was born, raised and currently live in the upper Midwest. But the coldest I've ever felt was on a trip to the Keys in January.

We arrived early on the Arctic front. This warmth with a pang of humidity was pleasant. Then the front exploded. While daytime temperatures were still in the 60s the next day, a 30 mph north wind made for a choppy drive to Dry Tortugas National Park and the coldest snorkeling I've done. I didn't expect to have to deal with this in South Florida, so it seemed colder than it otherwise would have been.

I promised that in the future, any winter getaway should have much less chance of being interrupted by such intense cold.

So if you want a better chance of avoiding this in winter, consider the Central or Eastern Caribbean. And Punta Cana? Or better yet, the south of the Windward Islands, Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao or Costa Rica.

Go north or further

What if your ski plans are in the Midwest or East this winter.

First of all, some good news. We are still waiting for a La Niña will develop this wintereven if it seems both weak and short-lived.

Looking at past weak La Niña winters, NOAA has found that they tend to be snowier than usual in the upper Midwest and parts of the Northeast, as shown in the map below.

The conundrum lies in the temperature outlook. If you remember from earlier, our forecast is generally warmer than average across much of the Midwest and East.

That's not to say it won't be cold at times, of course.

But if you need to plan ahead for a multi-day ski getaway to the Midwest or East this winter, rather than spontaneously taking an hour's drive to a nearby ski resort, you might want to be going as far north or as high altitude as possible.

This can reduce the chances of finding the slopes icy during a warmer season than enjoying pure powder.

Consider northern New England, Michigan's Upper Peninsula, or Snowshoe, West Virginia, instead of a lower-elevation ski resort farther south, if you need to plan ahead.

I’d love to hear any other travel weather tips and stories you have. Contact me on any of my social networks linked below.

MORE ON WEATHER.COM

-​ Winter Storms 101: How to Prepare

-​ What you need to know about snow maps on social media

-​ Winter outlook 2024-25

Jonathan Erdman is a senior meteorologist at Weather.com and has covered national and international weather since 1996. Extreme and bizarre weather are his favorite topics. Contact him on Blue sky, X (formerly Twitter), Topics And Facebook.​