National Weather Outlook

United States ;December 16th, 2025
New England through the Southeast Core

As December 16th begins, the eastern United States remains shaped by a broad and relatively stable synoptic pattern. NOAA and National Weather Service guidance indicates that surface high pressure continues to exert influence across much of the eastern half of the country, limiting widespread precipitation while maintaining seasonable winter temperatures. Storm systems remain displaced to the west, and although cold air is firmly established, the absence of deep moisture and strong forcing keeps conditions largely calm across many regions.

What follows is a detailed regional account of how this pattern manifests from New England southward into the core Southeast.

New England

(Massachusetts; New Hampshire)

New England enters Tuesday under continued high-pressure influence. NOAA guidance shows no organized storm systems crossing Massachusetts or New Hampshire during the day. The air mass remains cold but stable, characteristic of mid-December conditions without significant arctic reinforcement.

Daytime temperatures are expected to range from the upper 20s into the mid-30s, while overnight lows fall into the teens and lower 20s. These values align closely with seasonal norms. Cloud cover varies through the day as weak upper-level disturbances pass through the broader Northeast, but available moisture remains limited.

Any precipitation that does occur is confined to brief, light snow showers or flurries, primarily across higher elevations. Accumulation, where it occurs at all, remains minimal. Winds are generally light to moderate, limiting wind-chill impacts and keeping travel conditions largely unaffected.

Overall, the region experiences a quiet winter day, marked more by cold temperatures than by active weather.

Northeast Interior

(Vermont; Maine)

The Northeast Interior remains colder than surrounding regions, yet similarly calm. NOAA forecast discussions indicate that cold air remains firmly entrenched across Vermont and interior Maine, but without the presence of strong surface or upper-level systems capable of generating widespread snowfall.

Daytime highs generally remain in the 20s, with overnight lows dropping into the single digits and teens. These colder readings reflect elevation and latitude rather than an influx of new arctic air.

Snowfall potential remains limited. While isolated snow showers or flurries are possible, particularly in mountainous terrain, guidance does not support organized or accumulating snowfall across the region. Winds remain modest, further reducing the likelihood of blowing snow or visibility issues.

The region continues in a steady winter pattern, cold but largely uneventful.

Mid-Atlantic

(Pennsylvania; Virginia)

Across the Mid-Atlantic, surface high pressure maintains control through Tuesday. NOAA guidance shows no significant storm systems affecting Pennsylvania or Virginia during this period, keeping conditions stable.

Daytime temperatures range from the mid-30s to lower 40s, with overnight lows settling into the 20s. Cloud cover increases at times as upper-level energy passes north of the region, but moisture remains insufficient to produce widespread precipitation.

Rain and snow chances remain low, and winds stay light. The overall pattern supports a quiet day, with no abrupt temperature swings or hazardous weather expected.

Appalachia

(West Virginia; Kentucky)

The central Appalachian region remains under the influence of cold air, but the atmosphere continues to lack sufficient moisture for significant winter weather. NOAA guidance does not indicate any organized systems crossing West Virginia or Kentucky on Tuesday.

Daytime highs range from the low-30s to upper-30s, while overnight lows fall into the teens and 20s. Higher elevations remain colder, particularly during the early morning hours.

Isolated flurries are possible, especially during overnight and early morning periods, but accumulations remain negligible. Winds are generally light, limiting wind-chill concerns.

Overall, conditions remain cold but calm, with winter impacts minimal.

Carolinas

(North Carolina; South Carolina)

The Carolinas remain positioned on the southern edge of the eastern high-pressure system. NOAA guidance indicates continued dry air and stable conditions across both states through Tuesday.

Daytime highs range from the upper-40s to mid-50s, with overnight lows falling into the 30s. These temperatures reflect a mild winter pattern compared to regions farther north.

Cloud cover remains limited, and no organized rain systems are expected. Any changes in conditions occur gradually and are tied to longer-range pattern shifts rather than immediate weather systems.

Southeast Core

(Tennessee; Georgia)

Tennessee and Georgia remain firmly within a stable weather regime. NOAA guidance shows limited moisture and weak atmospheric forcing across the region, keeping precipitation chances low.

Daytime highs range from the mid-40s to low-50s, with overnight lows settling into the upper-20s and 30s. Winds remain light, and temperature trends show little deviation through the day.

No significant weather impacts are expected across the Southeast Core on Tuesday, as the region remains insulated from the more active weather developing farther west.

Deep South

(Alabama; Mississippi)

Across the Deep South, conditions remain largely stable through Tuesday, though NOAA guidance shows early signs of increasing cloud cover as moisture begins to organize to the west. Surface high pressure still limits widespread precipitation across Alabama and Mississippi during the day.

Daytime temperatures range from the low-50s to low-60s, with overnight lows generally falling into the upper-30s and low-40s. These values remain seasonable for mid-December and indicate a mild winter pattern relative to northern regions.

Rain chances remain low during the daytime hours, though increasing clouds reflect a slowly changing pattern. No organized thunderstorms or widespread rainfall are indicated for Tuesday itself, but this region remains among the first east of Texas to feel the effects of an approaching system later in the week.

Florida Peninsula

(Florida)

The Florida Peninsula remains relatively quiet under the continued influence of high pressure. NOAA guidance shows limited forcing and only shallow moisture across the state, keeping precipitation coverage low.

Daytime highs range from the upper-60s to mid-70s, with overnight lows settling into the 50s and lower 60s. These temperatures remain consistent with seasonal norms for December in Florida.

Isolated showers are possible, particularly near the coast, but rainfall remains brief and localized. No widespread rain or severe weather is indicated. Winds remain light, and overall conditions stay calm and mild.

Gulf Coast

(Texas; Louisiana)

Along the Gulf Coast, the weather pattern begins to show clearer signs of transition. NOAA guidance indicates increasing moisture across eastern Texas and Louisiana as upstream systems begin to influence the region.

Daytime temperatures range from the mid-50s to upper-60s, with overnight lows falling into the 40s and low-50s. Cloud cover increases through the day, particularly across Louisiana.

While Tuesday itself remains largely dry for many areas, this region becomes a focal point for developing rain chances as the week progresses. Any precipitation on Tuesday remains scattered and light, with more organized activity expected later as systems advance eastward.

Mid-South / Lower Mississippi Valley

(Arkansas; Missouri)

The Mid-South and Lower Mississippi Valley sit firmly within a transition zone. NOAA guidance shows dry conditions dominating early Tuesday, followed by increasing cloud cover as energy approaches from the west.

Daytime highs range from the mid-40s to low-50s, with overnight lows dropping into the 20s and 30s. These temperatures reflect the gradual influence of colder air to the north, while milder air remains to the south.

Precipitation remains limited during the day, though the increasing cloud cover signals changing conditions ahead. No widespread rain or snow is indicated for Tuesday itself, but the region stands closer to the advancing pattern shift than areas farther east.

Ohio Valley

(Ohio; Indiana)

The Ohio Valley remains under relatively quiet conditions, though colder air continues to define the region. NOAA guidance indicates surface high pressure maintaining control, keeping organized precipitation at bay.

Daytime temperatures range from the low-30s to low-40s, with overnight lows falling into the 20s. Cloud cover varies, particularly across northern portions of the region.

While widespread precipitation is not expected, the Ohio Valley remains close enough to the Great Lakes for lake-effect influences to occasionally brush northern areas. Any impacts remain localized rather than region-wide.

Great Lakes

(Michigan; Wisconsin)

The Great Lakes region remains one of the more active areas east of the Rockies. NOAA guidance continues to highlight lake-effect snow potential, particularly downwind of Lakes Michigan, Superior, and Erie.

Daytime highs range from the upper-20s to mid-30s, with overnight lows in the teens and 20s. These temperatures support ongoing lake-effect processes where wind direction aligns favorably.

Snowfall remains highly localized, with some areas experiencing persistent bands while nearby locations see little to no snow. Travel impacts depend heavily on proximity to the lakes and prevailing wind patterns.

Upper Midwest

(Minnesota; Iowa)

Across the Upper Midwest, cold air dominates. NOAA guidance indicates continued dry conditions for much of Tuesday, with storm systems remaining displaced farther west.

Daytime highs range from the teens to upper-20s, while overnight lows fall into the single digits and teens. These values reflect a deep winter pattern, though without the presence of an active storm system.

Winds remain modest, limiting wind-chill extremes compared to earlier cold outbreaks. The region remains cold and quiet, with attention gradually shifting to potential systems later in the week.

Northern Plains

(North Dakota; South Dakota)

The Northern Plains remain firmly entrenched in winter conditions. NOAA guidance indicates cold air dominating the region through Tuesday, with limited moisture available for widespread precipitation.

Daytime highs generally range from the teens to lower 20s, while overnight lows fall into the single digits, with colder pockets dipping below zero. Winds increase at times, contributing to lower wind-chill values, though sustained blizzard conditions are not indicated.

Snowfall potential remains limited during the day, with dry and cold conditions prevailing. Any snow that does occur is light and sporadic. The primary impact across the Northern Plains remains cold temperatures rather than active weather systems.

Central Plains

(Nebraska; Kansas)

Across the Central Plains, conditions remain relatively quiet but cold. NOAA guidance shows surface high pressure maintaining control through much of Tuesday, keeping precipitation chances low.

Daytime temperatures range from the upper-20s to upper-30s, with overnight lows falling into the teens and lower 20s. Cloud cover gradually increases as systems approach from the west, signaling a shift later in the week.

For Tuesday itself, however, dry conditions dominate, and no significant winter weather impacts are expected.

Southern Plains

(Oklahoma; Texas)

The Southern Plains sit closer to the leading edge of the developing pattern. NOAA guidance indicates increasing cloud cover and rising moisture levels, particularly across Texas, as upstream systems move eastward.

Daytime highs range from the 40s across Oklahoma to the 50s and low-60s across Texas, with overnight lows in the 30s and 40s. These temperature gradients reflect the interaction between cooler continental air and milder Gulf-influenced air farther south.

While widespread precipitation is not expected during the early part of Tuesday, this region becomes increasingly unsettled later, with rain chances beginning to rise first across Texas.

Rockies

(Colorado; Wyoming)

The Rockies remain one of the most active weather regions. NOAA guidance highlights continued winter weather across the higher terrain, with colder air and periodic snow showers persisting through Tuesday.

Daytime highs range from the teens to 30s, depending on elevation, while overnight lows fall into the single digits and teens. Snowfall remains focused in mountainous areas, with accumulations continuing along favored slopes and passes.

Travel conditions in higher elevations remain impacted by snow-covered roads and reduced visibility at times, though conditions vary significantly by location.

Intermountain West

(Utah; Idaho)

Across the Intermountain West, winter weather remains firmly in place. NOAA guidance indicates continued cold temperatures and periodic snowfall, particularly across mountainous terrain.

Daytime highs generally range from the 20s to lower 30s, with overnight lows in the teens. Snowfall continues in higher elevations, with valley locations experiencing colder but drier conditions between systems.

The region remains under the influence of ongoing Pacific energy, keeping winter weather active but episodic rather than continuous.

Desert Southwest

(Arizona; New Mexico)

The Desert Southwest remains comparatively quiet. NOAA guidance shows dry conditions dominating across Arizona and New Mexico, with cooler air lingering behind earlier systems.

Daytime highs range from the 50s to 60s at lower elevations, with cooler temperatures in higher terrain. Overnight lows fall into the 30s and 40s.

No significant precipitation is expected during Tuesday, and conditions remain stable across most of the region.

Pacific Northwest

(Oregon; Washington)

The Pacific Northwest remains among the most active weather regions nationally. NOAA guidance indicates ongoing Pacific moisture streaming into western Oregon and Washington, bringing periods of rain at lower elevations and snow in the mountains.

Daytime highs range from the 40s to lower 50s at lower elevations, with colder conditions in the Cascades. Heavy rain continues in some areas, contributing to rising rivers and localized flooding concerns, while mountain snow impacts travel through higher passes.

This region remains firmly under the influence of a progressive Pacific pattern, with active weather persisting through Tuesday.

Weather forecasting is based on the best available data, pattern recognition, and historical behavior of the atmosphere, but is hardly ever absolute; small changes in wind direction, cloud cover, or timing can shift local conditions, especially in complex terrain. Forecasts describe what is most likely to happen, not what is guaranteed to happen, and conditions can always evolve faster or slower than expected.